ALCOHOL AND ROAD TRAFFIC

ALCOOL ET TRAFIC ROUTIER

The bad influence of alcohol on the driver's behaviour is well known: weakened attention, longer reaction time, changed speed and precision in timing, weakened muscular power and recovery possibilities...are as many dangerous factors entailed by the exagerated consumption of alcoholic drinks. Two methods are used to detect the alcohol impregnation: the alcohol test or breath test and the blood test. The breath test however shows an error percentage of about 20% but its reliance justifies its current application under the present circumstances. When the alcohol percentage borders on 1.5 gr. or when research is made on putrid blood, the test should always be carried out by the chromatographic method in the gas stage. An important item liable to discussion is the retro calculation of the alcohol percentage in the blood. It is a question of theoretical calculations which have their followers and their detracters. One may think that the credibility increases when they are established with rigour and while always using the same method. They should however always be given with the normal reservations. It is desirable that these examinations should be carried out by doctors who are well acquainted with the problem and have the know-how to detect an alcohol intoxication which should ease the magistrate's task when he is asking himself questions when a discrepancy crops up between the clinical examination and the alcohol percentage in the blood. The present article also gives the results of blood tests carried out following road accidents. The examinations are limited to the province of Liege and cover the years 1966 to 1972. They have been carried out in the legal medicine laboratory of the Liege University. /Author/

• Authors:
  • Andre, A
• Publication Date: 1975-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 23 p.
• Serial:
  • Aspects Techniques de la Securite Routiere
  • Volume: 61

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol breath tests; Alcohols; Behavior; Blood alcohol levels; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Gas chromatography; Highway safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00132090
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 1 1976 12:00AM