[Alcohol, the aged and traffic].

The roadworthiness of older people is affected by internal, neurological or orthopedic diseases and by the medication. These factors have an effect on alcohol tolerance. Therefore, alcoholization in elderly drivers needs specific attention. A retrospective evaluation of all alcoholized traffic participants > 60 years of age between 2003-2008 in Hamburg is described. The data analysis gives information about the alcohol level in various age groups, the resulting neurological/physiological deficits, chronic illnesses and the medications taken. The proportion of elderly people involved in a traffic delinquency has increased. However, the absolute number of old drunk drivers has decreased. Seniors are represented significantly less often concerning alcohol in traffic than other age groups.