Analyses of post-treatment records of impaired drivers injured in crashes revealed nearly 30% were convicted of alcohol related offenses within five years following discharge from the hospital. There was no difference in conviction survival rates between drivers convicted as a result of their crash and drivers who escaped convictions. The post-treatment conviction rate for injured impaired drivers was nearly ten times the rate of conviction for the general driving population. Further analysis of driving records of impaired injured drivers revealed that a significant proportion of the injured drivers demonstrated indicators of problem drinking, for instance prior Driving While Intoxicated convictions, and Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) greater than 0.20. (A)
Abstract