Identification of Specific Problems and Countermeasures Targets for Reducing Alcohol Related Casualties [1975]

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15249301975PDFResearch PaperPerchonok, KennethCalspan Field ServicesUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesDriversDrunk driversTraffic crashesCrash investigationCountermeasuresImpaired driving, AlcoholZS-5547-V-1DOT-HS-4-00945Police reports of accidents were analyzed in terms of accident characteristic and driver behaviors to determine the problems of drinking drivers. Analyses were conducted to profile the culpable drinkers and to compare them to culpable nondrinkers in terms of the nature of the accident generation, accident situations, and driver characteristics. In addition, driver drinking status and culpability were studied in conjunction with driver accident and conviction records. Major findings included extremely high culpability rates for drinkers, a propensity for drinkers to have accidents in low demand-situations, an over-representation of the young among the drinkers (but no more so than among the nondrinkers), and a higher proportion of drinkers in accidents among drivers with previous drinking convictions. Some initial suggestions for countermeasures ideas responsive to the accident types of drinkers were made. /Abstract from report summary page/129