Blood alcohol levels of fatally injured drivers, motorcyclists and pedestrians : January to June 1980 : TARU 2/81

Results of post-mortem blood alcohol data for drivers, motorcycle riders and pedestrians who died as a result of crashes which occurred in the first six months of 1980 in New South Wales were examined, and compared with corresponding Victorian data. Between 30% and 50% of fatally injured drivers and riders in N.S.W. were found to have a blood alcohol level of more than 0.08 g/100 ml (the legal limit at the time of data-collection). The blood alcohol levels of drivers and riders were similar in NSW and Victoria for the first six months of 1980. The blood alcohol levels of pedestrians, however, were much lower in Victoria than in NSW.