CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON DRINKING AND DRIVING

This consultation paper invites comments on the government's proposals, following the findings of the 1974 Blennerhassett Committee, seeking up to date views on issues such as the unrestricted power to test and describes trials of evidential breath testing machines. It is proposed that the present impairment and excess alcohol offences should be merged into a single offence of driving while impaired. The present alcohol limit should remain unchanged, but proof of an offence should not be unreasonably dependent on compliance with procedural requirements. It was thought that indiscriminate testing would be undesirable but discussion was sought on the possibilities of the police having power to test drivers at the roadside. Practical assessments of three breath alcohol testing instruments described in an annexe, show good agreement with certified blood results. It was proposed that the sampling of urine should be abandoned. Special procedures for high risk offenders were proposed and a continuing programme of education and research is desirable. "A Practical Assessment of Three Breath Alcohol Testing Instruments" (Isaacs, MDJ, Emersion, VJ, Fuller, NA and Hunt, DJ) follows consultative paper. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Department for Transport, England

  Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street
  London,   England  SW1P 4DR
• Authors:
  • Isaacs, MDJ
  • Emerson, V J
  • Fuller, N A
  • Hunt, D J
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 33 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol breath tests; Blood alcohol levels; Crimes; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Federal government; Intoxication; Police; Roadside; Specifications
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 1542: Alcohol test; 2231: Drunkenness; 183: Government (national); 1516: Offence; 177: Specifications; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00316887
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 30 1980 12:00AM