From comparatively scanty information, an increased traffic accident risk appears to be associated with several chronic medical conditions including alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, diabetes and illness. Further study probably will show that medical handicaps other than alcoholism are a factor in from 5 to 10 per cent of traffic accidents. However, in about half of the accidents caused by heart attacks, the individual has no previous knowledge of his illness, and prevention of the accident would not be possible. A very strong relationship has been shown between drunk driving and traffic accidents, and 50 to 75 per cent of all severe and fatal traffic accidents involve the use of alcohol. A major reduction in the traffic accident toll may thus depend on the early identification and treatment of alcoholism.
Abstract