The blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of all operators involved in motorcycle accidents (MCA) and drivers of motor vehicle accidents (MVA) admitted to a New Jersey Level I Trauma Center during 1992 (the first year such data were computerized) were evaluated. Comparable to other institutional statistics (one-third of vehicular accidents are related to alcohol consumption) our data showed 13 (33%) of 40 MCA operators and 117 (35%) of 340 MVA drivers had measurable BAC. These values, as well as their respective Injury Severity Scores (ISS), were recorded and compared for significance of apparent differences using the 't' test for unpaired observations. Mean BAC was 124 +/- 24 (SE) mg dl-1 for MCA and 180 +/- 9 mg dl-1 for MVA (p < 0.05). The respective mean ISS for MCA was 13.1 +/- 5.4 and MVA was 7.9 +/- 0.9 (p = 0.12). These data indicate that drivers involved in MVA and MCA are frequently under the influence of alcohol. The mean BAC for motorcyclists is significantly less than that for drivers of four-wheeled passenger vehicles and is likely to reflect the need for greater coordination and balance when operating a two-wheeled vehicle.
[1]
F L Mannering,et al.
Statistical analysis of motorcyclists' perceived accident risk.
,
1995,
Accident; analysis and prevention.
[2]
C A Soderstrom,et al.
Marijuana and other drug use among automobile and motorcycle drivers treated at a trauma center.
,
1995,
Accident; analysis and prevention.
[3]
R. Szabo,et al.
Cost of orthopedic injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents.
,
1985,
JAMA.
[4]
E R Braver,et al.
Lower extremity injuries from motorcycle crashes: a common cause of preventable injury.
,
1994,
The Journal of trauma.
[5]
N Colburn,et al.
Should motorcycles be operated within the legal alcohol limits for automobiles.
,
1993,
The Journal of trauma.
[6]
G. W. Snedecor.
Statistical Methods
,
1964
.
[7]
C A Soderstrom,et al.
Alcohol use, driving records, and crash culpability among injured motorcycle drivers.
,
1993,
Accident; analysis and prevention.