American Association for Automotive Medicine. Conference

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15250251979PDFResearch PaperBlomberg, Richard D.Fell, James C.Anderson, Theodore E.Dunlap and Associates, inc.United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesNew Orleans (Louisiana)PedestriansPedestrian-vehicle crashesAlcohol useCrash investigationHuman factors in crashesBlood alcohol levelsDOT-HS-805-521NRD-32NRD-42NTIS-PB80227051DOT-HS-4-00946Conference paperA field accident research study was conducted in the City of New Orleans in 1975-76 in order to (1) determine the percentage and relative risk of alcohol involvement in adult pedestrian fatal and injury accidents; (2) identify in the alcohol involved accidents any unique accident types, behavioral errors, or other characteristics which distinguish these accidents from non-alcohol pedestrian accidents; and (3) study the alcohol use patterns and the drinker classifications of these pedestrians. The study was based on extensive data collection on adult (age >14) pedestrian fatal and non-fatal accident cases and the establishment of control groups based on accident and random site sampling. Positive blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were found in approximately half of both the fatally injured pedestrians and non-fatally injured group. The outcome indicates that the degree of alcohol involvement in non-fatal crashes (where the pedestrian is treated at a hospital) is as great as in fatal accidents and that a startling proportion of the victims in both groups have very high BACs. Depending upon the control group used, the relative risk of accident involvement increases at BAC levels >.10% and accelerates rapidly at higher BAC levels. There were indications that (1) the path the pedestrian chose in crossing the road, (2) the culpability of the pedestrian, and (3) the frequency of the pedestrian striking the vehicle were related to the pedestrian's BAC. Countermeasure implications of these and other results are discussed as well as recommendations for continuing accident research.A field accident research study was conducted in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1975-1976 in order to determine the percentage and relative risk of alcohol involvement in adult pedestrian fatal and injury accidents; to identify in the alcohol-involved accidents any unique accident types, behavioral errors, or other characteristics; and to study the alcohol use patterns and drinker classifications of these pedestrians. Data were collected on pedestrian (age 14 and over) accident cases, and control groups were established. Positive blood alcohol concentrations (BAC's) were found in approximately half of both the fatally injured and nonfatally injured pedestrian groups. The outcome indicates that the degree of alcohol involvement in nonfatal crashes is as great as in fatal accidents and that a startling proportion of victims in both groups have very high BAC's. Depending upon the control group used, the relative risk of accident involvement increases at BAC's greater than or equal to .10% and accelerates rapidly at higher levels. There were indications that the path the pedestrian chose in crossing the road, the culpability of the pedestrian, and the frequency of the pedestrian striking the vehicle were related to the pedestrian's BAC. Areas for future research and potential countermeasures were identified. /Abstract from report summary page/129