Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2014 Aug;24(2):32-37.

A Trend of Traffic Accidents among Alcohol-Impaired Driving in Korea between 2001 and 2009

• Bang HA
• Rhim KH
• Lee MJ
• Lee WC
• Kwon YH

Abstract

Alcohol has many widespread effects on the body, and impairs almost all forms of cognitive function, such as information processing, decision-making, attention and reasoning. Visual and vestibular functions are also adversely affected. Alcohol use is a significant risk factor of aircraft accidents. Analysis of traffic accidents among alcohol-impaired driving is helpful to understand aircraft accidents associated alcohol use. This article provides information on the trend of traffic-accidents among alcohol-impaired driving (AID) in Korea between 2001 and 2009. The morbidity rate (MR) and mortality rate (MoR) per 100,000 persons of all traffic accidents (ATA), ATA fatalities, AID severe injuries and AID fatalities fell from 550.3,17.1, 39.5 and 2.1, respectively in 2001 to 475.9, 12.0, 33.6 and 1.8, respectively in 2009 (P＜0.01). However, the MR of ATA injuries, AID all-accidents and AID injuries increased from 722.7, 52.8 and 89.0, respectively in 2001 to 742.4, 57.9 and 104.2, respectively in 2009 (P＜0.01). AID traffic accidents, as categorized by age fell from 68.6% in 2001 to 53.9% in 2009 for drivers younger than 40 years of age (P＜0.01). Moreover, AID traffic accidents, as categorized by weekdays and weekends were 52.7% and 47.3%, respectively in 2001, and 51.9% and 48.1%, respectively in 2009. The change rates of AID traffic accidents between 2001 and 2009 by vehicle type were ＋7.7% for private cars, −4.9% for omnibuses,−5.1% for trucks, ＋0.5% for motorcycles and ＋1.7% for others. In conclusion, comprehensive community and nationwide interventions that included highly publicized enforcement of laws against AID and drinking have yielded substantial reductions in driving after drinking and in AID-related crashes and deaths.

Keyword

Aircraft accidents; Traffic accidents due to alcohol-impaired driving; Morbidity and mortality; Vehicle