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Low blood alcohol concentrations and driving impairment

A review of experimental studies and international legislation

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Summary

While noting that there is no international scientific or legislative uniformity in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels admissible for driving motor vehicles, the authors analyse problems concerning the effects of low levels of ethyl alcohol on driving ability.

A summary of the international literature on this subject reveals:

  1. -

    the existence of contrasting assumptions, with scientific evidence clearly demonstrating altered psychomotor functions;

  2. -

    the need to adopt sufficiently complex psychometric tests to reveal the effects of low BACs;

  3. -

    the need to improve standardization of experimental studies on man-machine interaction;

  4. -

    the need to investigate the following areas: tolerance to alcohol; low BACs with inexperienced, infrequent drinkers and chronic, heavy drinkers; hangover effects; alcoholgender-age interactions, and specific effects on young drivers; alcohol-drug combinations.

    The analysis of legislation and enforcement policies also reveals the need for:

  5. -

    re-evaluation of the international legal BAC threshold and standardization of procedures for ascertaining the degree of driving disability;

  6. -

    further scientific research to compare and evaluate selected legislative initiatives currently in place in most states; to identify the best strategies and procedures to detect and arrest impaired drivers; to determine the optimum random testing rate to maximize deterrent effects in the workplace at minimal cost; to design innovative and comprehensive approaches to rehabilitation programs needed for subgroups of offenders and of workers; to study the effectiveness of new legislations and policies.

Zusammenfassung

In der Erkenntnis, daß es keine internationale wissenschaftliche oder gesetzliche Einheitlich keit im Hinblick auf die zulässigen Blutalkoholkonzentrationen beim Fahren von Kraftfahrzeugen gibt, analysierendie Autoren die Probleme, welche die Auswirkungen niedriger Alkoholkonzentrationen auf die Fahrtüchtigkeit haben.

Eine Zusammenfassung der internationalen Literatur zu diesem Gegenstand deckt auf:

  1. -

    die Existenz gegensätzlicher Vermutungen, mit wissenschaftlichem Beweis, welcher eindeutig veränderte psychomotorische Funktionen aufzeigt;

  2. -

    das Erfordernis, ausreichend komplexe psychomotorische Tests aufzunehmen, um die Auswirkungen niedriger Blutalkoholkonzentrationen aufzudecken,

  3. -

    das Erfordernis, die Standardisierung experimenteller Studien über die Wechselwirkungen zwischen Mensch und Maschine zu verbessern;

  4. -

    das Erfordernis, die folgenden Bereiche zu untersuchen: Alkoholtoleranz; geringe Blutalkoholkonzentrationen mitunerfahrenen Gelegenheitstrinkern einerseits und chronischen schweren Trinkern andererseits, die Auswirkungen des „Alkohol-Katersr“ Beziehungen zwischen Alkohol, Geschlecht und Alter und spezifische Auswirkungen auf junge Fahrer; Alkohol-Drogen-Kombinationen.

    Die Analyse der Gesetzgebungs- und Strafverfolgungs-Politiken deckt ebenfalls auf die Notwendigkeit für:

  5. -

    Re-Evaluation der internationalen gesetzlichen Blutalkoholkonzentrationsgrenzen und Standardisierung der Maßnahmen zur Feststellung des Grades der Fahruntüchtigkeit;

  6. -

    weitere wissenschaftliche Forschung, um ausgewählte gesetzliche Initiativen vor Ort in den meisten Staaten zu vergleichen und zu bewerten; Identifizierung der besten Strategien und Maßnahmen, um beeinträchtigte Fahrer zu erkennen und zu arrestieren; Bestimmung der optimalen Zufallstest-Rate, um abschreckende Wirkungen am Arbeitsplatz zu minimalen Kosten zu maximieren; Gestaltung innovativer und umfassender Maßnahmen für Rehabilitationsprogramme, welche für Untergruppen von Straftätern und Arbeitern benötigt werden; Untersuchung der Effektivität neuer Gesetzgebungen und Politiken.

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  1. Centre of Behavioural and Forensic Toxicology, Istituto Medicina Legale, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, I-35121, Padova, Italy

    S. D. Ferrara, S. Zancaner & R. Giorgetti

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Ferrara, S.D., Zancaner, S. & Giorgetti, R. Low blood alcohol concentrations and driving impairment. Int J Leg Med 106, 169–177 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371332

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