ALCOHOL AND DRIVING: A SURVEY OF PROSECUTION AND DEFENCE ALCOHOL ESTIMATIONS

This article presents the results from a laboratory dealing with defence samples of blood and urine taken for the purposes of the earlier road traffic and safety acts and the present road traffic act (1972) relating to drinking and driving, and compares some of them with the results from a laboratory dealing with prosecution samples. The results are discussed and it is concluded that the introduction of breath tests and permissible limits of alcohol has had no continuing effect on the reduction of the average alcohol levels in drinking drivers; the problem is largely restricted to male drivers; the apparent failure rate of the breathalyzer is lower than expected; the sampling and packing techniques are effective; and the attitude of the accused is thought-provoking: many of the accused appear to be either apprehensive of the consequences, indifferent, or just annoyed. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Wright (John) and Sons, Limited

  42-44 Triangle West
  Bristol,   England 
• Authors:
  • Oliver, J S
  • Sloan, E
  • Smith, H
  • Rodger, W J
• Conference:
  • MEDICINE, SCIENCE AND THE LAW
• Publication Date: 1975-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 211-217
• Serial:
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue Number: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol breath tests; Alcoholism; Attitudes; Blood alcohol levels; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Economic efficiency; Highway safety; Intoxication; Legal factors
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• ITRD Terms: 1542: Alcohol test; 2267: Attitude (psychol); 1553: Blood alcohol content; 1772: Driver; 2231: Drunkenness; 5911: Efficiency
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00128281
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 10 1976 12:00AM