The objective was to analyze deaths by traffic accidents registered at the Medical Legal Institute (IML) of the Rio de Janeiro city, based on frequency of the level of alcoholemy exams performed. We analyzed 533 records for a six-month period that corresponds to 12.3% of the total number of deaths registered at the IML. It was identified that the alcoholemy exams were prioritized, being done primarily with victims coming from public streets, and got to the IML in the twelve first hours after the accident. The performance of the alcoholemy exams had a significant relationship with the time between the accident and the death occurrence. The study showed that a big opportunity is lost to perform exams in a great number of victims that come straight from public streets during the twelve first hours after the accident (50,1%), collaborating for a sub notification of the true numbers of alcohol in transit
Mortality; Traffic accidents; Alcoholic beverages
