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- Title
Some Crashes Are More Unintentional Than Others: A Reply to Blanchard, Hicking, and Kuhn.
- Authors
Kramer, Teresa L.; Booth, Brenda M.; Xiaotong Han; Williams, D. Keith
- Abstract
Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is a crime in every state in the nation. In 2000, alcohol was involved in 40% of the fatalities and speeding was involved in 30% of the fatalities. Many states are now obtaining murder convictions for repeat offender intoxicated drivers who cause fatalities; their crimes are considered wanton and willful disregard of human life. These trends contributed in part to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's (NHTSA) abandonment of accident in favor of crash nearly 6 years ago. According to the former NHTSA administrator, continuation of the use of this word accident in lieu of crash works against a public perception of the preventability of injuries and fatalities in the highway environment. To the extent that drivers engage in high-risk behaviors with foreseeable outcomes they are more likely to cause crashes and, therefore, can be held increasingly responsible for the consequences. Most drivers responsible for crashes, however, are understandably reluctant to accept such responsibility. At least four studies involving crash survivors indicate that drivers attribute more responsibility for their crashes to other drivers than they willingly accept.
- Subjects
DRUNK driving; DRUGGED driving; TRANSPORTATION safety measures; TRAFFIC accidents; TRANSPORTATION accidents; DRINKING &; traffic accidents
- Publication
Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2003, Vol 16, Issue 5, p529
- ISSN
0894-9867
- Publication type
Editorial