VEHICLE-RELATED FATALITIES AMONG SWEDISH CONSCRIPTS

All traffic fatalities among conscripts in Sweden from 1979 through 19 88 (N = 106) were studied. More than half (58%) of the victims were on leave, nearly one-third (30%) were traveling to or from the regiment, and 13 (12%) were on duty. Forty-one percent of the drivers on leave who were involved in crashes were inebriated; the mean blood alcohol c oncentration was 1.6 g/kg. Fifty-two percent of the conscripts on leav e were injured in single-vehicle crashes. Fatalities occurring during travel to or from the regiment most often occurred in crashes with ano ther vehicle (69%), and all the drivers were sober, At least one of th e fatally injured drivers on duty was inebriated, and in another two c rashes, safety belts were not used although this was compulsory for bo th passengers and drivers. We conclude that collective travel could re duce the danger in traveling to and from the regiment, In addition, id entifying alcohol abusers and preventing them from driving is of prime importance. Increased use of safety belts and installation of airbags should also be beneficial as well.