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Journal Article

Citation

Dettmann J, Wischhusen F, Seifert H, Heinemann A, Puschel K. Blutalkohol 2005; 42(1): 1-10.

Affiliation

Dettmann, J., Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, Universitat Hamburg-Eppendorf, D-22529 Hamburg, Germany

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

For the entire observation period from 1996 to 2002, a decrease in the number of blood alcohol tests can be observed in Hamburg (1996: 5 543 cases, 2001: 3 601 cases, 2002: 3 663 cases). In particular since 1998, the year of the introduction of the forensic breath alcohol test, the number of blood alcohol tests for values under 1.10(per mille) decreased significantly. Whereas in the year 1996 12.6% of all registered cases were considered as irregularities, the share dropped to 1.8% in 2002. In 1998, a sudden increase to 21.9% was observed. It remains unclear, however, to which extent this decrease was influenced by the reduction of the breath alcohol concentration limit to 0.25 mg/l (1998) and the blood alcohol concentration limit to 0.5 g/l (2001) according to (section) 24a traffic law. Between 1996 and 2002, the proportion of women fluctuated around a mean of 12.6%. Hence, an increase or decrease in the proportion of women cannot be shown. As expected, it is shown that the level of alcoholisation determined as 'not noticeable'/'slight' leads to the highest percentage in the range of 0.5-1.09(per mille) and decreases with higher ranges as well as to the range of 0-0.49(per mille). On the other hand, the level of alcoholisation determined as 'medium'/'high' was registered mainly in the range of 2.0-2.49(per mille) and decreased similarly with lower and higher ranges of alcoholisation. Over 50% of all drink driving offences with blood alcohol concentrations of between 2.0 and 3.5(per mille) are referred to as 'slightly drunk' and merely 1% as 'heavily' intoxicated. This fact could indicate a greater tolerance towards alcohol in drivers as well as a lack of quality when it comes to medical expert opinions.

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