López-Rivadulla M., Sánchez I., Cruz A., Muñiz J., García R.

Instituto de Medicina Legal, Servicio de Toxicología Forense, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

The aim of this work is to provide an approach to identify variables associated with accident risk factors caused by ethyl alcohol, and to study if levels below 0.8 g/L (legal limit in Spain) are also risk factor in road traffic accidents.
Methods. Data presented in this study were obtained from case and control groups. The case group is referred to drivers involved in accidents and admitted to an Emergency Hospital Service (n=144). The control group was selected in a geographical area close by the accidents (n=3.828). In both groups blood alcohol analysis (BAC) were performed: in case group by head-space gas-chromatographic method in the blood, and in the control group by breath-alcohol analyzer machine Drager 7110.
Results. In a first descriptive phase, a comparison between cases and controls BAC, in relation with time, age, sex and day of week, is presented. In a second one the relative risk, in a odds ratio form, is discussed.
Conclusions. Sex and age factors were not significant in the road traffic accidents (RTA). Time band of day showed an additional risk factor. BAC levels below 0.8 g/L were found to be a very important factor risk in RTA. On the basis of this study, we propose that the civil authorities modify the limit of BAC in order to establish it in 0.5 g/L