DRUNK DRIVING WARNING SYSTEM (DDWS). VOLUME II: FIELD TEST EVALUATION

The Drunk Driving Warning System (DDWS) is a vehicle-mounted device for testing driver impairment and activating alarms. The driver must pass a steering competency test (the Critical Tracking Task or CTT) in order to drive the car in a normal manner. The emergency flasher system operates when the test is failed; and if the car is driven faster than 10 mph, the horn honks periodically, once per second. The CTT/DDWS concept and hardware were developed under earlier contracts. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of the concept, both in its sensitivity to alcohol impairment and in terms of various practical considerations in assigning the device to DWIs as a judicial sanction in a probationary setting. Volume II of the final report describes the field test conducted to 1) test the performance of the CTT/DDWS in an operational setting, and 2) identify and solve the practical operational issues related to CTT/DDWS implementation through a municipal court system under various state laws and state agency operating procedures. Background is given on the pursuit of legal feasibility, and obtaining the support and/or cooperation of state and local agencies. Subject selection, processing, and assignment procedures are reviewed. Subject CTT/DDWS performance is analyzed and no inconsistencies are evident in comparison with the Volume I controlled laboratory results. Debriefing information and other project experience is summarized to address issues of user and public acceptance of the DDWS concept. Based on analysis of field test results and comparison with previous laboratory findings, the CTT/DDWS is shown to effectively detect driver impairment. Implementation of DDWS through a court system with the assistance of state agencies is shown to be feasible. Future options for the current DDWS equipment and future developments are also discussed.

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1377
• Corporate Authors:

  Systems Technology, Incorporated

  13766 South Hawthorne Boulevard
  Hawthorne, CA  United States  90250

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Allen, R W
  • Stein, A C
  • Cook, M L
  • SUMMERS, L G
• Publication Date: 1983-12

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blood alcohol levels; Driving tests; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Feasibility analysis; Field tests; Instrumentation; Laboratory tests; Legal factors; Sensitivity; Warning systems
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00389473
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: STI-TR-1136-1-II Final Rpt., HS-806 460
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-8-02052
• Files: HSL, NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 30 1984 12:00AM