Alcohol abuse and traffic safety : a study of fatalities, driving while intoxicated offenders, alcoholics, and court-related treatment approaches

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15248321970PDFResearch PaperFilkins, Lyle D.University of Michigan. Highway Safety Research InstituteUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesMichiganDrunk driversDriver rehabilitationTraffic accidentsAlcohol abuseDOT-HS-EPX-004NTIS-PB197574FH-11-6555FH-11-7129Final reportAuthor's abstract: Methodology and conclusions on the role of the abusive use of alcohol in traffic safety were developed through three related projects. Project I is a case-history investigation of 616 traffic fatalities from metropolitan Wayne County, Michigan (15 July 1967-31 August 1969), to (a)identify drinking involvement of these fatalities; (b)investigate, compare, and analyze accidents in which alcohol was involved; (c)characterize a population of drinking traffic fatalities from demographic, driving, criminal, and social agency information. Project II investigates 1517 persons admitted to Hurley Hospital (Flint, Mich.) diagnosed alcoholic or referred to the hospital's alcoholic group therapy program from 15 June 1956 to 30 June 1967. The study focuses on driving performance of 1247 alcoholics from 1961 to 1967, to (a)describe groups of alcoholic drivers who contribute disproportionately to traffic deaths, injuries, or property damage, and (b)identify characteristics which best predict which of these drivers are likely to be involved in future traffic crashes. Project III describes and analyzes published reports of 10 alcoholism treatment programs in the U.S. over the past 20 years, to (a)provide a framework for program planners considering use of court-related treatment for alcoholics; and (b)analyze results of court-induced alcoholism treatment. In addition, the first two project populations were compared with one random sample of Michigan drivers and another of drivers convicted of DUIL or DWI in Detroit from July 1967 to June 1969; all four were compared on selected demographic variables and on a 6.5-year driving history.129