Samenvatting
In most industrial countries, serious accidents in the air and at sea are investigated by a board of inquiry, similar boards for fatal traffic accidents were also introduced in Finland in 1968. In 1971-74 the boards investigated 1430 fatal traffic accidents. Alcohol was involved in 25-33 % of the traffic deaths in a year. According to the statements of the boards, alcohol was the decisive factor in 31,4 % of the cases, an indispensable cause in 51,0 % and an additional factor in 13,7 % of the investigated fatalities with alcohol involvement.