The Role of Alcohol in Collisions Involving Trucks

Abstract

The role of alcohol was studied in collisions in which drivers of large trucks and pickup trucks were involved either as fatally injured or surviving drivers. Drivers of large trucks almost always were the survivors, usually were not at fault, and probably had not been drinking in any of their crashes. The fatally injured drivers or pedestrians who initiated the crashes commonly had high blood alcohol concentrations. In contrast, drivers of pickup trucks more often were fatally injured in these crashes, frequently were responsible for their crashes, and usually had high blood alcohol concentrations. Police reports were correct less than half the time concerning alcohol when they stated that fatally injured drivers or pedestrians had not been drinking but were responsible for the crashes. However, the police always were correct when they stated drivers or pedestrians had not been drinking and were not responsible for the crashes.