WOMEN, ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN FINLAND. WOMEN, ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND TRAFFIC - PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 29-30 SEPTEMBER, 1988

This paper studied the level of alcohol and drugs use in 497 female motor vehicle drivers who were involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents in Finland in 1975-1987. All the accidents were carefully examined and analysed by specific investigation teams. The proportion of alcohol related female drivers was 7.8% in the whole sample. The time related proportion was quite stable during the whole study period. In 6.3% of the drivers, the involvement of alcohol was estimated to be a factor that contributed significantly to an accident. Drugs were found to be a contributing factor in only 0.2% of the drivers. Compared to males, the involvement of alcohol in female drivers seems to be of a minor problem in fatal crashes. However, many characteristics, especially those related to the actual event, were more alike between alcohol related drivers than between alcohol related and sober drivers. (TRRL)