Characteristics of Crashes Involving Drink Driving

Crashes involving drinking and driving often exhibit a number of characteristics.

Single vehicle crashes and high speed – drink-driving crashes often involve high speed and a single vehicle running-off the road. Many of these crashes also result in the vehicle hitting a fixed roadside object. In urban areas these can be signs or electricity poles, while in rural areas it is usually trees, culverts, bridge ends and fence posts.

Night and weekend crashes – drink-driving crashes occur more often at night (when more alcohol is consumed) and generally on weekends or periods of high leisure activity.

Increased severity of injury – this is partly because once a crash and the injury causing impact has occurred, the existence of alcohol in the body of the crash victims works to limit the extent and level of recovery from injury.