Showing papers on "Driving under the influence published in 1997"
TL;DR: The kinetic profile of ethanol and ethyl glucuronide in serum was investigated in healthy, moderately drinking volunteers and in teetotalers and drivers suspected of driving under the influence of ethanol.
Abstract: The kinetic profile of ethanol and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in serum was investigated in three subject groups: 1) Healthy, moderately drinking volunteers (daily intake less than 30 g ethanol) who ingested a single dose of ethanol. In this group the maximum of serum ethyl glucuronide concentration (SEtGC) and of serum ethanol concentration (SEC) did not exceed 3.7 mg/L and 1.5 g/L respectively. EtG peaked 2 to 3.5 h later than ethanol. EtG was eliminated with a terminal half-life of 2 to 3 h. EtG decreased slower than ethanol--the metabolite could still be determined in serum up to 8 h after complete ethanol elimination. 2) In serum samples of teetotalers neither ethanol nor EtG could be found. 3) In 37 of 50 serum samples of drivers suspected of driving under the influence of ethanol, SEtGC was found between the limit of detection (0.1 mg/L) and 20 mg/L. If the SEC is less than 1 g/L and the SEtGC is significantly higher than 5 mg/L, we assume alcohol misuse.
140 citations
TL;DR: It appears that socioeconomic class health differentials may have strong roots in late adolescence, and several aspects of high-risk behavior tend to aggregate in the same individuals, mostly among the less privileged families and population groups.
118 citations
TL;DR: The evaluation found that alcohol-involved traffic crashes were reduced as a result of this component in the experimental communities as contrasted with the matched comparison communities.
Abstract: The Drinking and Driving Component, one of five elements of the Community Trials Project, involved the implementation of a special drink driving countermeasure in the three experimental communities, one in Northern California, one in Southern California and another in South Carolina. This intensified enforcement of driving under the influence (DUI) was designed to deter potential drinking drivers by increasing their perception of the risk of being arrested leading to a reduction in the consumption of alcohol before driving. See component detailed description in Voas (1997, this issue). The evaluation found that media advocacy training and technical assistance resulted in increased DUI news coverage and that additional police officer hours for DUI enforcement, greater use of breathalyzer equipment, increased officer training and more checkpoints produced increased DUI enforcement. The combined effects of increased DUI news coverage and DUI enforcement yielded increased public perceived risk of arrest and subsequently less drinking and driving. Overall the evaluation found that alcohol-involved traffic crashes were reduced as a result of this component in the experimental communities as contrasted with the matched comparison communities.
101 citations
TL;DR: The frequency of drugged drivers apprehended in roadside traffic appears to be at least 10-fold higher in Norway than most other countries, probably due to differences between national road traffic acts and the level of attention to the problem, and not to national differences in the prevalence ofdrugged driving.
78 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that police suspicion about drivers under influence highly correlated with positive results for drug analyses in biological samples, thus indicating a high incidence of potential interactions between drugs.
69 citations
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: The use of the State motor vehicle department to manage an interlock program is also discussed in this article, where it is shown that approximately half of DUI offenders do not reinstate their licenses when eligible.
Abstract: Thirty-four of the states have enacted legislation which authorizes or requires the use of Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (BAIIDs) on the vehicles of offenders convicted for driving under the influence (DUI). These laws generally provide for two types of program administration: (1) through the probation power of the court, or (2) through the driver license administration power of the state department of motor vehicles. The advantage of the latter is that the state agency generally has greater resources for managing an interlock program (Voas and Marques, 1992). A limitation in the use of the State motor vehicle department to manage an interlock program is that its only method for motivating the offender to accept an interlock is control over the reinstatement of the driver's license. Research has indicated that approximately half of DUI offenders do not reinstate their licenses when eligible. In contrast, the court has the power to require participation as a condition of probation where the consequences for failure to conform to the requirement could, at least nominally, be incarceration. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 893732.
52 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the first two years of the implementation of this type of law in Franklin County (Columbus), Ohio were evaluated and the recidivism rates of these offenders were compared with offenders who did not receive a vehicle sanction.
42 citations
TL;DR: Drug testing has been progressively extended from its original clinical setting, where results were utilised to improve the therapeutic care of the addict, to other sectors of society such as workplace safety, forensic science, prisons, insurance medicals, driving under the influence of drugs and anti-doping programmes in sports.
Abstract: The increase in the abuse of illicit drugs in recent years is a matter of growing concern within society. The most widely used technique for detecting the consumption of illicit drugs is that of urine analysis, usually referred to as drug testing, and the results generated can be used to establish if an individual has consumed drugs within a time period prior to the collection of the sample. Drug testing has been progressively extended from its original clinical setting, where results were utilised to improve the therapeutic care of the addict, to other sectors of society such as workplace safety, forensic science, prisons, insurance medicals, driving under the influence of drugs and anti-doping programmes in sports. In certain situations, when medico-legal implications have to be considered, a positive identification can have a serious impact on the individual's freedom and livelihood. The European countries have different approaches to the drugs of abuse problem. Consequently, each country has a different approach to drug testing and to the implementation of measures for ensuring the quality of
41 citations
39 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: This study shows that because of the variable composition of ecstasy tablets, unpredictable types and amounts of drugs may be taken by MDMA misusers and there is considerable concern that traffic accidents may be caused by MDMA-abusers.
Abstract: Methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") and other related phenylethylamines are nowadays used extensively in Western Switzerland at dance clubs and raves. There is a widely held belief among teenagers and misusers that ecstasy is safe. In the last years however, an increasing number of reports of MDMA-related deaths has been reported. Acute clinical toxicity problems following MDMA ingestion include hyperthermia, convulsions and arrhythmias. There is also growing concern that these phenylethylamines are neurotoxic and cause long-term damage to serotonineric nerve terminals in animal brains. Qualitative analyses by GC-MS of street samples of ecstasy showed that only a part of them contain MDMA or related phenylethylamines (MDA, MDEA, MBDB and 2C-B). Most of them were mixed with caffeine and an excipient (sugars or polyols [e.g. mannitol]). Amphetamine cut with caffeine and other drugs (e.g. testosterone), stimulants (e.g. pseudoephedrine) and other drugs unrelated to stimulants and phenylethylamines (e.g. LSD, chloroquine, vasodilators) were also detected. Quantitative determinations performed by HPLC-DAD or EC-DAD reveal huge fluctuations in the amount of active substance(s) per tablet. MDMA and related compounds display unique psychoactive properties, acting as a stimulant and inducing feelings of empathy. The effects of MDMA intake are very likely the results of the large release of serotonin (5-HT) in the synaptic cleft, of the inhibition of the re-uptake inactivation of 5-HT and of the inhibition of a key-enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of 5-HT. Forensic investigations performed at our institute showed significant blood levels of MDMA, MDEA and MDA in samples drawn from people suspected of driving under the influence of psychoactive drugs. Up to now, no death could be attributed to MDMA intoxication only because our analyses always revealed the additional presence of toxic amounts of other psychoactive drugs (e.g. opiates, cocaine). Our study shows that because of the variable composition of ecstasy tablets, unpredictable types and amounts of drugs may be taken by MDMA misusers. Moreover, there is considerable concern that traffic accidents may be caused by MDMA-abusers. MDMA intake could result in severe intoxication and even death, especially when combined with other types of drugs.
25 citations
TL;DR: Production of ethanol in antemortem blood samples inoculated with an efficient ethanol-producing microorganism and incubated at various temperatures is discussed.
Abstract: Production of ethanol in antemortem blood samples inoculated with an efficient ethanol-producing microorganism and incubated at various temperatures is discussed. Whole blood samples inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae were incubated in gray stoppered Venoject® tubes (approximate draw volume 7 mL) containing sodium fluoride (17.5 mg) and potassium oxalate (14.0 mg) at 4°C, 25°C, and 37°C for 0, 24, 96, 192, and 408 h. No volatile substances (such as ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone, or acetaldehyde) (
TL;DR: The first 57 offenders who participated in this program were all convicted of the crime of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) as discussed by the authors, and the main difference between the two was that one group went to jail while the other served their sentence under house arrest with EM.
Abstract: The “Western” County Probation Department (PA) implemented a house arrest with electronic monitoring (EM) program in the Fall of 1992. This article provides an evaluation of the first 57 offenders who participated in this program. Offenders included in this study were all convicted of the crime of Driving Under the Influence (DUI). The Commonwealth's mandatory DUI Act provided an opportunity to study two very similar groups. The main difference between the two was that one group went to jail while the other served their sentence under house arrest with EM. Descriptive and inferential statistics revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to rearrest, revocations, and detainers filed (technical violations). Also, the overwhelming majority of EM offenders were able to successfully complete their EM period of supervision without incident, addressing the negative claims that such programs unduly jeopardize the safety of the community. Findings indicate that h...
TL;DR: For instance, the authors found that participants in the computerized questionnaire condition viewed items presented by a computer via an overhead projection pad and responded on individual keypads networked to the computer.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors derived an equation relating the ratio of BAC to BrAC to the absolute temperature of the breath, the fraction of water in the blood, and the enthalpy and entropy of vaporization of ethanol from aqueous solution.
Abstract: Chemical and instrumental tests for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) measure the concentration of ethanol in the breath (BrAC), while state DUI laws are described in terms of blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Consequently, accurate and fair conversion from BrAC to BAC is crucial to the judicial process. Theoretical treatment of the water-air-ethanol equilibrium system and the related blood-breath-ethanol system, based on principles from general chemistry and biology, yields an equation relating the ratio of BAC to BrAC to the absolute temperature of the breath, the fraction of water in the blood, and the enthalpy and entropy of vaporization of ethanol from aqueous solution. The model equation predicts an average value for the ratio of 2350+100, not significantly different from reported experimental values. An exponential temperature dependence is predicted and has been confirmed experimentally as well. Biological, chemical, and instrumental variables are described along with their contributio...
TL;DR: Information supported views that a trial might increase the number of dependent heroin users and improve health, reduce criminal behaviour, especially drug dealing and increase the prevalence of driving under the influence of heroin, although this would not necessarily reduce road safety.
Abstract: We investigated the feasibility of a trial to provide heroin to dependent users and as part of this sought the views of three groups of users and ex-users. While a majority of each group supported a trial, a greater proportion of people who were currently users of heroin or other illicit opioids were in favour than was the case either for people who had been dependent on heroin in the past or for people who currently used or had used illicit drugs, but who had never used heroin or other opioids. Where possible, we related views about trial outcomes to additional information provided by respondents. This information supported views that a trial might a) increase the number of dependent heroin users and. for trial participants, b) improve health, c) reduce criminal behaviour, especially drug dealing andd) increase the prevalence of driving under the influence of heroin, although this would not necessarily reduce road safety. Difficulties in measuring trial effects on some of these outcome measures are discu...
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: This study examines in retrospect, 131 cases of drivers with conspicuous behaviour in road traffic of the year 1995 in the area of southern Baden under suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), showing a positive result in 74 per cent of all suspicuous DUID-cases when tested for drugs in blood and/or urine.
Abstract: This study examines in retrospect, 131 cases of drivers with conspicuous behaviour in road traffic of the year 1995 in the area of southern Baden. In these cases the samples were analysed chemical-toxicologically at the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University of Freiburg under suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). These cases represent 4 per cent of the 3 289 cases tested for alcohol. The evaluation showed a positive result in 74 per cent of all suspicuous DUID-cases when tested for drugs in blood and/or urine. The most frequently detected drugs in the samples were: Cannabinoids in 31 per cent. opiates in 28 per cent, benzodiazepines in 28 per cent and cocaine in 11 per cent of all cases. In 50 per cent of the cases tested positive for drugs, more than one drug was detected. Often there was also a combination of drugs with alcohol. Benzodiazepines and cannabinoids were more frequently combined with alcohol than opiates. In more than half of the cases there was a time span of over 1 hour between the incident and the sampling. Overall there were seven times as many men as there were women. The results found in the southern Baden area are being compared with similar studies from Homburg/Saar, Zurich and Lausanne. DWI
TL;DR: To compare the sociodemographic characteristics, patterns of alcohol consumption and driving histories of women and men drink‐drivers, a large number of studies have looked at women's and men's driving histories in the context of binge drinking.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare the sociodemographic characteristics, patterns of alcohol consumption and driving histories of women and men drink-drivers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: All 156 women who attended the Drink-Drive Program at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, between January 1990 and December 1993, and an age-matched sample of 298 men attending in the same period. All had been disqualified from driving after a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported weekly alcohol consumption and expenditure on alcohol at apprehension and during the program; blood alcohol level (BAL) at apprehension; demographic characteristics; number of previous drink-drive and other traffic convictions; and score on the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). RESULTS: Women had a higher educational level than men, and were more likely to be managers or professionals and to live in areas of high socioeconomic status. Women reported lower levels of weekly alcohol consumption at both apprehension (women: 15.2 standard drinks; men: 31.6 standard drinks) and during the program (women: 7.1 standard drinks; men: 12.0 standard drinks) but had similar BALs to men at apprehension (mean, 0.12% [26 mmol/L]). Sixty percent of women drank wine, or wine, beer and spirits, while 75% of men drank beer. Women had lower MAST scores than men (mean [standard deviation]: women, 5.8 [5.2]; men, 8.9 [8.2]). Women were less likely than men to have prior convictions for drink-driving or other traffic offences. CONCLUSION: Although women presented with similar blood alcohol levels to men, their drinking patterns and sociodemographic characteristics differ greatly. Health education for women drink-drivers needs to have a different strategy to that for men.
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: An investigation which followed suspected drugged drivers arrested in 1992 to study rearrest rates and suggested that in Norway recidivism was higher among drugged Drivers than among drunken drivers.
Abstract: An investigation is described which followed suspected drugged drivers arrested in 1992 to study rearrest rates and compare these figures with those for drunken drivers selected from the same year. The results showed that 54% of drugged drivers reappeared in the data system twice or more times during the 3 year period studied due to driving under the influence of drugs, drugs combined with alcohol or alcohol alone. The results suggested that in Norway recidivism was higher among drugged drivers than among drunken drivers. For the covering abstract see IRRD 893732.
01 Mar 1997
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the contribution of alcohol in road traffic accidents and developed a policy to discourage driving under the influence of alcohol, which is feasible and will require working with a range of stakeholders to establish a politically and financially feasible approach.
Abstract: Road traffic “accidents” are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya, exerting a considerable burden on health care services. Human error is recognized as the leading cause. Alcohol is suspected to be an important contributing factor, although such evidence has not been documented, and specific policies and interventions do not currently exist. This study aimed to establish the magnitude of the contribution of alcohol in traffic crashes as a basis for planning and developing drink-driving policy. The main objectives were: 1. To determine the incidence and characteristics of injury presentations in hospitals and estimate injury-related workload. 2. To determine alcohol prevalence and distribution of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in casualties with different types of injuries. 3. To estimate the contribution of alcohol in traffic crashes, in combination with data from a roadside survey of drivers. 4. To establish the knowledge and perceptions of key informants and different groups about causes of road “accidents”, effects of alcohol, awareness of road safety measures, and the preferred interventions. 5. To explore the potential for successful development of drink-driving policy. The research was undertaken in Eldoret, Kenya. It comprised three sub-studies employing epidemiological methods complemented by focus group discussions, key informant interviews, documents review, and policy analysis techniques. Relevant data was gathered from 2,637 injury-affected hospital attenders, 479 drivers, 12 key informants and 3 focus groups. The results indicated that: 1. Assaults are the most frequent cause of injuries requiring hospital treatment, while traffic crashes are the leading reason for trauma-related admissions. Males and young adults aged 20-39 years are the most affected by traffic crashes and collisions. Children are affected mainly by falls and bums. Traffic crashes lead to the most severe types of injuries, and greater utilization of operating theatre, and inpatient services (total bed-days) than other injury mechanisms. 2. Alcohol is most associated with assaults and traffic injuries. Alcohol-related injuries predominantly involve men, and occur with a greater frequency on week-ends and at night. Traffic crashes involving drivers and pedestrians are more likely, than passengers, to be associated with alcohol. 3. Drinking and driving is common in the general driving population in Eldoret: on average 20% of night-time drivers had imbibed some alcohol. Drinkers were mostly men aged over 24 years, driving personal cars on short trips. The risk of involvement in a road crash is six times greater in drinking drivers and increases with the rise in BAC. 4. There is a general perception of the multifactorial nature of causation of road “accidents”, comprising human, road, vehicle and social factors, with alcohol playing an important role. Support for the introduction of drink-driving interventions is evident, although some scepticism exists about effective enforcement and availability of resources. 5. Involvement and the support of key government ministries, non-govemmental institutions and the commercial sector with interest in road transport and alcohol industry, and various professionals in the decision-making process would increase the feasibility of successful development of a public policy on drink-driving. The availability of convincing data is likely to enhance the decision-making process. Adverse effects of alcohol on driving increases the incidence of traffic injuries, potentially avoidable by establishing drink-driving interventions. Successful formulation of a policy to discourage driving under the influence of alcohol is feasible and will require working with a range of stakeholders to establish a politically and financially feasible approach.
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the results of an evaluation of a model of causal relationships to explain the intention to drive under the influence of alcohol structurally similar to the Theory of Reasoned Action.
Abstract: The authors present the results of an evaluation of a model of causal relationships to explain the intention to drive under the influence of alcohol structurally similar to the Theory of Reasoned Action. They establish that the attitude toward driving under the influence of alcohol, the intensity of the subjective norm related to this behaviour, and the motivation to comply with this same subjective norm, are the three factors that explain the intention to drive under the influence of alcohol, the interaction between the latter two not having any significant influence on the intention. Furthermore, the attitude toward driving under the influence of alcohol is explained by a factor which saturates significantly, and in a positive way, the relative beliefs about the risk of suffering a traffic accident and losing control of the vehicle, and in a negative way, the relative beliefs about how pleasurable it is to carry out this behaviour, the time saved compared to taking some form of public transport, and the convenience of not depending on anyone and not worrying about finding other means of transport. The relevant parameter is the intensity with which the individual holds these beliefs, without the intervention of the evaluation of the attributes referred to. The intensity of the subjective norm is explained by another qualitative factor different from that previously mentioned, which integrates the five specific motivations to comply with spouse, with friends, with relatives, with brothers and sisters and with the mother. In these three cases, the measurement of these factors is supported by the results of the confirmatory factorial analysis carried out previously. Although the results of the path analysis indicate that the hypothesis causal relationships are statistically significant, the specified model is not adequate to describe globally how the data obtained in the study are related. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 896859.
01 Jan 1997
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented crosstabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, court sanctions, administrative actions and alcohol-involved accidents and evaluated the effectiveness of alternative court and administrative sanctions (including alcohol treatment programs and license actions).
Abstract: In this sixth annual legislatively mandated report, 1994 and 1995 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) data from diverse sources were compiled and cross-referenced for the purpose of developing a single comprehensive DUI data reference and monitoring system. This report presents crosstabulated information on DUI arrests, convictions, court sanctions, administrative actions and alcohol-involved accidents. In addition, this report provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative court and administrative sanctions (including alcohol treatment programs and license actions) upon the post conviction records of first and second DUI offenders. The postconviction driving records of DUI offenders arrested in 1989, 1992, and 1994 were evaluated for six-, three-, and one-year periods, respectively.
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: The aim of the present study was to focus on the correlation between clinical signs found on objective examination and alcohol and psychoactive substances in drivers' biological fluids.
Abstract: With the aim of highlighting the role played by psychotropic substances (alcohol, drugs of abuse, psychoactive drugs) in causing road accidents, a survey based on clinical and chemico-toxicological analyses was carried out on car drivers in the Veneto region during the weekends of the three-month periods June-August 1994 and 1995, and in January 1995 and January 1996. The aim of the present study was to focus on the correlation between clinical signs found on objective examination and alcohol and psychoactive substances in drivers' biological fluids. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 893732.
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: Neither medical-legal investigations nor legal literature could demonstrate doubtless criteria to differentiate between intent and negligence in drink driving, according to the study.
Abstract: The study objects to new attempts to draw conclusions from certain pieces of evidence as to whether it was intent or negligence in cases of driving under the influence of alcohol. Neither medical-legal investigations nor legal literature could demonstrate doubtless criteria to differentiate between intent oder negligence in drink driving.
TL;DR: To document the usefulness of the RapiTest THC, which is marketed in France under the trade name Rapidrog Cannabis, 92 urine samples obtained from a detoxification center were simultaneously tested by this immunoassay, fluorescence polarization immunoASSay (FPIA), and GC-MS.
Abstract: Procedures designed to detect cannabis use by analyzing urine samples for the presence of 11-nor-Ag-tetrahydrocannabino!-9-carboxylic acid (THCCOOH) are well-documented. The traditional approach is to screen urine by immunoassay and submit the presumptive positive samples for by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Several commercial instrumental and noninstrumental immunoassays are available on the market. Recently, new regulations in Europe concerning driving under the influence of drugs have increased manufacturers' interest in proposing simple and single noninstrumental immunoassays. To document the usefulness of the RapiTest THC (Princeton Biomeditech Corporation, Princeton, N J), which is marketed in France under the trade name Rapidrog Cannabis (J2L Diffusion, Labarthe Inard, France), 92 urine samples obtained from a detoxification center were simultaneously tested by this immunoassay, fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), and GC-MS. The Rapidrog Cannabis test is based on the principle of detecting drugs by an immunochromatographic reaction, or CICA (colored immuno chromatography assay). The urine sample flows through a membrane by capillary action. The dye conjugate complex on the test membrane and the drug present in the urine compete for the antibody present on the test membrane. In the absence of the drug, the antibody is free to react with the dye conjugate, and a colored band appears in the test window. A control band is included with the test to confirm validity. The positive cutoff value is fixed at 50 ng/mL of THCCOOH (1). The result is obtained 3 min after pipetting five drops of urine into the test sample cavity. If the test is positive, only one band will appear; if the test is negative, two bands will appear. FPIA and GC-MS analyses were achieved according a Table I. Method Comparison for Rapidrog, FPIA, and previous paper (2) with 25 and 15 ng/mL of THCCOOH GC-MS as positive cutoffs, respectively. Method Number of positives Number of negatives Results are presented in Table I. When using the GC-MS cutoff of 15 ng/mL, 54 of the 92 samples were GC-MS 54
Journal Article•
TL;DR: A new bill proposes a general ban on driving under the influence of drugs, both legal and illegal, but a major problem is the need to show drug/medication misuse and recognize the specific symptoms in the individual case-only then successful use can be made of already existing legal remedies.
Abstract: While the rigorous prosecution of drunken drivers in Germany has resulted in a decrease in alcohol related accidents since the 1990s, the relevant risks of legal or illegal drugs are still receiving too little attention, and legal proceedings are rare. A study carried out at the beginning of the 1990s and data from a roadside survey in two distinct regions of Germany (Franken and Thuringen) show that the effect of illegal drugs and medications is almost equally as important as those of alcohol. A new bill proposes a general ban on driving under the influence of drugs, both legal and illegal. A major problem, however, is the need to show drug/medication misuse and recognize the specific symptoms in the individual case-only then successful use can be made of already existing legal remedies.
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the relationship between frequency and efficiency of controlling driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and found that subjects overestimated low probabilities of detection and rated their competence in the game.
Abstract: Deterrence theory postulates that certainty, severity and celerity of punishment reduce deviant behavior. With drunk driving certainty of detection is in fact a two-step-process: first, the driver has to be stopped, second, the police has to notice his drunkenness. Therefore, in discussing certainty of detection as a countermeasure against driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), frequency and efficiency of controlling both have to be taken into account. In an experimental context the relationship between the two factors was analysed. Subjects varied. Conditions of 20% and 80% probability for each factor resulted in 4 treatment groups to which subjects were randomly assigned. After the game subjects estimated probability of detection and rated their competence in the game. Subjects overestimated low probabilities of detection, Also, estimation of subjective risk was higher when controls were more efficient. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 893732.
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: It seems now necessary, with the arrival of new marker of alcohol consumption, to define a strategy of use of those biological markers to improve the quality of medical assessments for drivers.
Abstract: Driving under the influence of alcohol is now the first cause of penal sanction in France, where society now requires a careful checking of the population of drivers before regranting their driving licence. But, if this wish of "cleaning" the roads of drunken drivers is a common objective, the administrative and technical tools are not well adapted to the request of the regulatories. Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is still often confused, in people's mind, with alcoholism, even, if the scientists know that an important part of alcohol related accidents are due to acute use of alcohol in non alcoholic people. The use of biological markers does not escape to this confusion. It seems now necessary, with the arrival of new marker of alcohol consumption, to define a strategy of use of those biological markers to improve the quality of medical assessments for drivers. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 893732.