NCJ Number
29877
Journal
Medicine, Science and the Law Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1975) Pages: 211-217
Date Published
1975
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECT OF BREATH TESTS AND PERMISSIBLE BLOOD ALCOHOL LIMITS ON REDUCING AVERAGE ALCOHOL LEVELS IN DRINKING DRIVERS WAS ANALYZED IN A COMPARATIVE SURVEY OF DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION LABORATORY BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES.
Abstract
ANALYZED WERE BRITISH DEFENSE SAMPLES COLLECTED OVER THE PERIOD 1968-1972 INCLUSIVE AND BRITISH PROSECUTION SAMPLES COLLECTED BETWEEN 1970 AND 1972. RESEARCHERS CONCLUDED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF BREATH TESTS AND PERMISSIBLE LIMITS (IN THE 1967 ROAD TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ACTS AND THE 1972 ROAD TRAFFIC ACT) HAS HAD NO CONTINUING EFFECT ON THE REDUCTION OF THE AVERAGE ALCOHOL LEVELS IN DRINKING DRIVERS. THE 25-27 PERCENT DROP IN THE AVERAGE BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CHANGE FROM AN EARLIER IMPAIRMENT LEVEL OF 150 MG PER 100 MC BLOOD TO THE ARBITRARY LEVEL OF 80 MG PER 100 ML BLOOD. THE SURVEY ALSO REVEALED THAT DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE WAS LARGELY RESTRICTED TO MALES AND THAT DEFENSE SAMPLES, ON THE AVERAGE, SHOWED LOWER ALCOHOL LEVELS THAN PROSECUTION SAMPLES. THIS LAST TENDENCY WAS EXPLAINED BY THE FACT THAT ACCUSEDS WITH LOWER ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION TENDED TO WANT THEIR SAMPLES ANALYZED.