AIM To analyze the severity of automotive injuries associated with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in increments of 0.01%. DESIGN/SETTING Epidemiological study using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. PARTICIPANTS All people in US fatal automotive accidents, 1994-2008 (n = 1 495 667). MEASUREMENTS The ratio of serious: non-serious injuries for drivers, by BAC. FINDINGS Accident s...

The driving performance is easily impaired as a consequence of the use of alcohol and/or licit and illicit drugs. However, the role of drugs other than alcohol in motor vehicle accidents has not been well established. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between psychoactive drug use and motor vehicle accidents requiring hospitalisation. A prospective observational case-c...

Fatal motor vehicle accidents (fMVAs) as well as accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists in Uusimaa county in 2008 were reviewed. Of the fMVAs, acute disease attacks while driving caused 26.5% (9/34) of the drivers' deaths. This equalled with the number of alcohol-related fatal accidents. Heart attack was the main cause (7/9 disease attacks). Three bicyclists (3/14; 21%) died for health r...

OBJECTIVE Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) may result in intractable disability. This paper investigates posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a potential cause. METHOD The literature was reviewed for recent studies on prevalence, symptom profile, and outcome of PTSD. RESULTS PTSD is prevalent in roughly 10% of survivors of MVAs during the first year. Comorbid depression and pain are common....