The author investigates the question of whether or not there are environmental factors that might mitigate the effects of impairment of cognitive or motor functions, of altered mood or judgement, of conscious risk taking, or a combination of these, as in the alcohol impaired driver. Environmental modifications which might counteract cognitive impairment are discussed, and include: larger and more clearly lettered road signs; better delineation of road edges and centre lines; better vehicle mirror systems; side and front visibility especially at night; vehicle and pedestrian conspicuity; reduction of the numbers of drivers entering one way systems incorrectly; location of alcoholic beverage outlets closer to public transport; improvements in the ability of police officers to identify alcohol impaired persons; and improved understanding of the environmental factors which affect pedestrians with high bal's (blood alcohol level) in the pre-injury phase. The author challenges the assumption that persons under the influence of alcohol are less subject to serious injury. He proposes 6 areas of research concerning human-environmental interactions during the crash or injury phase: (1) association between bal and injury severity; (2) extent to which alcohol is associated with vehicle speed in crashes; (3) extent to which a variety of possible factors (including non-use of occupant restraint systems and vehicle characteristics) explain increased injury frequency and severity associated with alcohol; (4) physiological and biochemical explanations of increased tissue sensitivity associated with alcohol; (5) the practical implications of current data on increased sensitivity to trauma when under the influence of alcohol; and (6) the use and role of passive restraint systems in alcohol related accidents. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 819066
Abstract