N.C. OCME Annual Report 1992
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Chapter 6: Motor Vehicle Accidents
Of the 2,376 deaths that are ruled accidental in manner, 1,381, or 58 percent, involved motor vehicles.
Figure 18
Figure 18 shows that drivers involved in a collision with another motor vehicle comprised 27.7 percent of the deaths, followed by drivers not involved in a collision with another vehicle (24.3%) and passengers involved in a collision with another motor vehicle (14.1%). Of the 1,058 drivers and passengers killed in single-or multiple-vehicle crashes, 336, or 31.76 percent, were known to be using a seat belt or other restraint.
The percentages of alcohol use for each type of motor vehicle accident deaths are shown in Figure 19. Alcohol was a major factor among drivers in a single-vehicle accident, passengers in a single-vehicle accident, pedestrians, and motorcycle users.
Figure 19
DR-SV = Driver, Single Vehicle
DR-MV = Driver, Multiple Vehicle
PED = Pedestrian
PS-SV = Passenger, Single Vehicle
PS-MV = Passenger, Multiple Vehicle
MC = Motorcycle
Table 9 reveals that in 1991 and 1992, the percentage of drivers in single-and multiple-vehicle crashes who had been drinking declined. Pedestrian alcohol use has also declined.
| Circumstance | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drivers in Single Vehicle Crashes | ||||||
| Sober | 134 (37%) | 118 (38% | 122 (36%) | 126 (42%) | 132 (44%) | 632 (39%) |
| Drinking | 23 (7%) | 18 (6%) | 26 (8%) | 15 (5%) | 22 (7%) | 104 (6%) |
| Influenced | 202 (56%) | 172 (56%) | 192 (56%) | 160 (53%) | 145 (49%) | 871 (54%) |
| Number Tested | 359 (91%) | 308 (88%) | 340 (89%) | 301 (88%) | 299 (89%) | 1607 (89%) |
| Deaths | 394 | 352 | 381 | 343 | 336 | 1806 |
| Drivers in Multiple Vehicle Crashes | ||||||
| Sober | 330 (75%) | 342 (80%) | 291 (80%) | 264 (81%) | 276 (84%) | 1503 (80%) |
| Drinking | 26 (6%) | 17 (4%) | 15 (4%) | 9 (3%) | 14 (4%) | 81 (4%) |
| Influenced | 82 (19%) | 69 (16%) | 60 (16%) | 53 (16%) | 40 (12%) | 304 (16%) |
| Number Tested | 438 (90%) | 428 (87%) | 366 (85%) | 326 (86%) | 330 (86%) | 1888 (87%) |
| Deaths | 487 | 493 | 432 | 379 | 383 | 2174 |
| Pedestrians | ||||||
| Sober | 109 (56%) | 90 (49%) | 85 (48%) | 79 (45%) | 65 (38%) | 428 (48%) |
| Drinking | 5 (3%) | 5 (3%) | 10 (6%) | 5 (3%) | 10 (6%) | 35 (4%) |
| Influenced | 81 (41%) | 87 (48%) | 82 (46%) | 90 (52%) | 96 (56%) | 436 (48%) |
| Number Tested | 195 (86%) | 182 (86%) | 177 (89%) | 174 (87%) | 171 (92%) | 899 (88%) |
| Deaths | 227 | 212 | 199 | 199 | 185 | 1022 |
Sober = <20mg%; Drinking = 20-99mg%; Influenced = >99mg% |
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The percentages of intoxicated decedents (defined as having a blood alcohol level of 100mg percent or more) by circumstance and time of injury are shown in Figure 20. The time period 9 p.m. - 3 a.m. had the highest percentage of intoxicated decedents in all circumstances. It is striking that in that time period, two-thirds of fatally injured pedestrians and almost three-fourth of drivers of single vehicle fatalities had blood alcohol levels at or above DWI levels.
Figure 20
*Tested alcohol level >= 100mg%
Table 10: 1992 Medical Examiner Motor Vehicle Accident Death Rates by Race and Sex (per 100,000 population)
| White | Nonwhite | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 26.1 | 38.2 | 28.9 |
| Female | 11.9 | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Total | 18.9 | 24.3 | 20.2 |
Table 10 shows motor vehicle accident death rates by race and sex. Nonwhite males had the highest death rate and the death rates for males was more than double that of females. Alcohol involvement was most common in motor vehicle accident deaths involving white and nonwhite males (Figure 21).
Figure 21
*Total tested for alcohol
Figure 22
Motor vehicle accident death rates by age and the age- specific percentage of motor vehicle accident deaths by alcohol level are shown in Figures 22 and 23 respectively. The age group 15-24 had the highest death rate, while the age group 25-34 had the highest percentage of victims intoxicated. Alcohol was common in all but the 65+ age group.
Figure 23
*Total tested for alcohol
Figure 24 shows that the highest number of deaths occurred between the hours of 3 p.m. and midnight.
Figure 24
*Total tested for alcohol
Non-drinking victims were killed during daylight hours; while drinkers died between late afternoon and early morning hours. Figure 25 shows that fatal accidents were most common on weekends.
Figure 25
*Day runs from 6:00am -5:59 am