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Alcohol's effect on fatality risk from a physical insult
Journal of Studies on Alcohol
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Alcohol significantly increases the risk of death after a traffic crash. A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.1% doubles fatality risk, while 0.25% triples it, indicating alcohol
Area of Science:
- Traffic Safety Research
- Toxicology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Alcohol's impact on crash involvement is established.
- Its effect on post-crash fatality risk remains less certain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To independently assess alcohol's influence on traffic crash fatality risk.
- To quantify this risk as a function of blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) for drivers in two-car fatal crashes with measured BAC.
- Employed two crash datasets: one with low baseline fatality probability, another with near 100% fatality.
- Calculated fatality risk ratios by comparing BAC=0 drivers to those with elevated BAC levels.
Main Results:
- Drivers with a BAC of 0.1% were 1.9 times more likely to be killed than BAC=0 drivers.
- Drivers with a BAC of 0.25% were 3.3 times more likely to be killed.
- A BAC of 0.1% approximately doubles the risk of death from a given impact.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol consumption substantially elevates the risk of death following a traffic crash.
- Findings suggest alcohol's general impact on trauma, not limited to traffic incidents.