The passenger and pedestrian contribution to the highway accident toll in Alberta, Canada, 1970-1972

Data on passenger involvement in fatal crashes are not usually available. The importance of such information for epidemiological studies designed to investigate etiological factors in fatal accidents is unquestionable. This was shown by the reporting of a few examples of crashes where the passenger action had led to the catastrophe. Three of the 12 presented cases were suicides, and most examples involved legally impaired passengers. An impaired passenger is a potential danger. Sober passengers, on the other hand, may also promote accidents, albeit unintentionally in much greater numbers than can be detected from motor vehicle accident statistics. 36% of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes were passengers. 75.4% of all pedestrian deaths in Alberta during the study period were self induced by adverse behavior in traffic. Over twice as many males as females were victims. The greatest proportion of crashes occurred at night except when young children were involved. Alcohol impairment contributed to 47.6% of the fatalities. Alcohol related pedestrian deaths appear to have been most tragic for the native population in Alberta. Unless all fatally injured pedestrians with the exception of children are tested for alcohol and ethnicity is reported on all deaths certificates, a complete assessment of differences in impairment between ethnic groups cannot be made. In any case, the impaired pedestrian was almost as great a menace to road safety as the impaired driver. Although the pedestrians were not responsible for the death of vehicle occupants, they brought about suffering and economic loss to others involved in the fatal crash. Pedestrian children were in many accidents 'responsible' for the crash but could not have been expected to comprehend the consequence of their behavior because of their young age. By proper supervision 25 children less than 6 years of age, or 12.3% of all pedestrians killed could have been saved. By effective education and supervision 19 school children, or 9.4% of all fatally injured pedestrians might still be alive today. Therefore, 21.7% of pedestrian deaths might have been prevented by exercising effective parental care.