A study was conducted of 497 drivers injured in a motor vehicle accident and treated at a hospital. The objectives were to determine the incidence of alcohol and other drugs in their blood systems at the time of the crash and the role these drugs may have played in the accident. The sample was considered conservative with respect to alcohol/drug incidence since only drivers who consented to a blood sample analysis were included. The results showed that fully 38 percent of the drivers had alcohol or some other drug in their systems; alcohol was found in 25 percent, tetrahydrocannabinol in 9.5 percent and tranquilizers in 7.5 percent. Ten percent of the drivers had ingested two or more drugs. It was found that legally intoxicated drivers (BAC approx. 10 percent) had the highest culpability rate (74 percent) followed by drivers with lower alcohol levels (54 percent) and with THC (53 percent). The drug-free drivers in contrast had a culpability rate of 34 percent while the drivers with tranquilizers were judged culpable in 22 percent of their accidents.


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    Title :

    The Role of Alcohol Marijuana, and Other Drugs in the Accidents of Injured Drivers


    Contributors:
    K. W. Terhune (author) / J. C. Fell (author)

    Publication date :

    1982


    Size :

    26 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





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