Psychosocial characteristics and follow-up of drinking and non-drinking drivers in motor vehicle crashes.

Eight hundred fifty-four consecutive motor vehicle crash (MVC) victims admitted from August 1, 1986, through August 31, 1989, were prospectively assessed including measurement of blood alcohol concentration (BAC). One hundred six in-hospital interviews were conducted on competent consenting drivers > or = 18 years old; 22.9% (n = 22) of those who were BAC tested (n = 96) were positive for alcohol on admission. The blood alcohol concentration positive [BAC(+)] and the BAC negative (-) drivers differed significantly on the following variables; driver education [BAC(-) > BAC(+): p < 0.01], license suspension < or = 2 years before admission [BAC(+) > BAC(-): p < 0.01], frequency of self-reported intoxication in month before crash [BAC(+) > BAC(-): p < 0.05], driving within 2 hours of drinking < or = 1 month before admission [BAC(+) > BAC(-): p = 0.01] and self-reported driving with BAC > 17 mmol/L < or = 1 month before admission [BAC(+) > BAC(-): p < 0.01]. Follow-up interviews (n = 106) were conducted 1 year after discharge; drivers originally testing BAC(+) were more likely to drive within 2 hours of drinking (p < 0.05), and were more likely to admit to driving with a BAC > 17 mmol/L (p < 0.01). Original BAC(+) drivers were also more likely to report a subsequent MVC in the year following discharge (not statistically significant). There is a need to develop an assessment system to identify high crash-risk drivers and establish rehabilitation programs to reduce crash recidivism.