A leading trauma doctor has called for new laws after a study found hundreds of drunk cyclists and pedestrians were seriously injured in collisions with cars and motorbikes in Victoria between 2009 and 2014.

Some of these people had blood alcohol readings up to 0.4 - eight times the legal limit for drivers. Dozens were between 0.1 and 0.3.

The Alfred hospital emergency and trauma specialist Biswadev Mitra​ and his colleagues looked at 1323 Alfred patients who were seriously injured in road accidents when they were not driving.

They found that 248 had alcohol in their system and 211 were deemed to be intoxicated because they had a blood alcohol reading of .05 or more.

One in four of these drunk people were pedestrians and one in 10 were cyclists. Seven of them died. The others sustained serious injuries, including major fractures and devastating brain injuries. Some will remain bed-bound for the rest of their lives.

Associate Professor Mitra said the study was the first to estimate the impact of alcohol on Victorian cyclists and pedestrians who sustain severe injuries in car accidents, and that the results from one hospital were likely the "tip of the iceberg".

While almost a quarter of all fatal crashes in Victoria involve a drunk driver or motorcyclist, there is no law banning drunk cycling or walking on roads in Victoria.

A spokesman for Victoria Police said such people can be stopped on suspicion of public drunkenness and charged with that offence, but neither can be breath tested. The maximum fine for being drunk in public is $1180.

Associate Professor Mitra, of Monash University, said he hoped the research would prompt a debate about whether all road users should be subject to the same laws.

"I think all road users should have similar laws applied to them," he said. "This study highlights that pedestrians contribute to a large burden (of road trauma) so even if you're walking drunk on the road, you should be breath tested and told to get off the road."

The doctor also called for mandatory blood alcohol testing for all road accident victims in emergency departments because it was possible some drivers were being charged with offences such as culpable driving when a drunk pedestrian or cyclist caused the accident. At the moment, only drivers are tested. If they refuse, they can be charged with preventing a health professional from taking a blood sample.

Associate Professor Mitra said pedestrians had been classified as 'users of the road' in Spain, so all relevant road laws, including alcohol limits, applied to them. He said at the very least, the Transport Accident Commission and others should consider highlighting the risks of being drunk around roads.

"Obviously we urge everyone to avoid excessive drinking, especially in a public place. But if you have had a few too many and you plan on walking home, make sure you have a sober friend with you or even better – get a cab," he said. "If you drink and walk, you're a bloody idiot too."

In 2006, the Victorian Parliament's Road Safety Committee recommended mandatory alcohol testing of injured pedestrians. It also recommended a review of the penalties for illegal pedestrian behaviour, and the enforcement of these. The measures were not supported by the Victorian government at the time.