TY - JOUR
T1 - Validity of police-reported alcohol involvement in fatal motor carrier crashes in the United States between 1982 and 2005
AU - McCarthy, Melissa L.
AU - Sheng, Peilin
AU - Baker, Susan P.
AU - Rebok, George W.
AU - Li, Guohua
N1 - Funding Information:
Funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institutes of Health, Grant Number R01AA09963.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Objective: To examine the validity of police-reported alcohol data for drivers involved in fatal motor carrier crashes. Material and Methods: We determined the availability of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and police-reported alcohol data on 157,702 drivers involved in fatal motor carrier crashes between 1982 - 2005 using Fatality Analysis and Reporting System (FARS) data. Drivers were categorized as motor carrier drivers if they operated a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 26,000 pounds. Otherwise, they were classified as non motor carrier drivers. The sensitivity and specificity of police-reported alcohol involvement were estimated for both driver types. Results: Of the 157,702 drivers, 18% had no alcohol information, 15% had BAC results, 42% had police-reported alcohol data, and 25% had both. Alcohol information varied significantly by driver, crash, and vehicle characteristics. For example, motor carrier drivers were significantly more likely (51%) to have BAC testing results compared to non motor carrier drivers (31%) (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of police-reported alcohol involvement for a BAC level ≥ 0.08 was 83% (95% CI 79%, 86%) for motor carrier drivers and 90% (95% CI 89%, 90%) for non motor carrier drivers. The specificity rates were 96% (95% CI 95%, 96%) and 91% (95% CI 90%, 91%), respectively. Conclusions: The sensitivity and specificity of police-reported alcohol involvement are reasonably high for drivers involved in fatal motor carrier crashes. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which the accuracy of police-reported alcohol involvement may be overestimated because of verification bias. Impact on the Industry: Based on the results of this study, the federal government should continue to work with states to strengthen their strategies to increase chemical testing of all drivers involved in fatal crashes.
AB - Objective: To examine the validity of police-reported alcohol data for drivers involved in fatal motor carrier crashes. Material and Methods: We determined the availability of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and police-reported alcohol data on 157,702 drivers involved in fatal motor carrier crashes between 1982 - 2005 using Fatality Analysis and Reporting System (FARS) data. Drivers were categorized as motor carrier drivers if they operated a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 26,000 pounds. Otherwise, they were classified as non motor carrier drivers. The sensitivity and specificity of police-reported alcohol involvement were estimated for both driver types. Results: Of the 157,702 drivers, 18% had no alcohol information, 15% had BAC results, 42% had police-reported alcohol data, and 25% had both. Alcohol information varied significantly by driver, crash, and vehicle characteristics. For example, motor carrier drivers were significantly more likely (51%) to have BAC testing results compared to non motor carrier drivers (31%) (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of police-reported alcohol involvement for a BAC level ≥ 0.08 was 83% (95% CI 79%, 86%) for motor carrier drivers and 90% (95% CI 89%, 90%) for non motor carrier drivers. The specificity rates were 96% (95% CI 95%, 96%) and 91% (95% CI 90%, 91%), respectively. Conclusions: The sensitivity and specificity of police-reported alcohol involvement are reasonably high for drivers involved in fatal motor carrier crashes. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which the accuracy of police-reported alcohol involvement may be overestimated because of verification bias. Impact on the Industry: Based on the results of this study, the federal government should continue to work with states to strengthen their strategies to increase chemical testing of all drivers involved in fatal crashes.
KW - Alcohol
KW - Blood alcohol concentration testing
KW - Fatalities
KW - Motor carriers
KW - Police reports
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67349114600&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67349114600&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsr.2009.04.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jsr.2009.04.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 19527818
AN - SCOPUS:67349114600
SN - 0022-4375
VL - 40
SP - 227
EP - 232
JO - Journal of Safety Research
JF - Journal of Safety Research
IS - 3
ER -