To the Editor:—
It has become increasingly obvious that the influence of alcohol is the most frequent human factor responsible for serious motorcar crashes. The records of Dr. S. R. Gerber at the county coroner's office, Cleveland, for the last 19 years show that 46% of the pedestrians, 54% of the drivers, and 42% of the passengers had been drinking. Since these figures include deaths up to 12 hours after the crash, Dr. Gerber points out that some of the victims tested had survived a sufficient length of time to metabolize alcohol present at the time of the "accident," and, therefore, contributed to the number of negative tests.A recent study by Haddon and Bradess from Westchester County, New York, revealed that 87 drivers had died within four hours of their single-vehicle crash. Eighty-three, or 95%, of these had had blood alcohol level determinations. Of the 83, 73% had been