Prevalence of Alcohol and Other Drugs in Fatally Injured Drivers

This study aims to examine the prevalence of alcohol and/or other drugs (AOD) in a large sample of fatally injured drivers.

Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for 2005–2009, the authors examined the prevalence of AOD detected in fatally injured drivers in the United States.

Fatal motor vehicle crashes occurring on public roads.

Drivers who died within one hour of the crash in 14 states that performed toxicological testing on more than 80% of these drivers.

Prevalence of AOD and multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR).

Of the 20,150 fatally injured drivers studied, 57.3% tested positive for AOD, including 19.9% being positive for two or more substances. Alcohol was the most commonly detected substance, present in 40.2% of the fatally injured drivers, followed by cannabinols (10.5%), stimulants (9.0%), narcotics (5.7%), and depressants (4.0%). Multivariable analysis revealed that AOD was significantly more prevalent among drivers who died in single-vehicle crashes [aPR 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.62–1.76], or nighttime crashes (aPR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.39–1.47), or who had a driving-while-intoxicated conviction within the past three years (aPR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.35–1.47), and less prevalent among drivers who were 65 years or older (aPR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.42–0.49), Asian (aPR 0.47, 95% CI 0.41–0.53), or female (aPR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.85–0.91), or who were operating a motor carrier (aPR 0.41, 95% CI 0.34–0.48).

More than half of fatally injured drivers in the United States had been using AOD and approximately 20% had been using polydrugs. The prevalence of AOD use varies significantly with driver and crash characteristics.