Citation

Roer H. Blutalkohol 1977; 14(5): 315-330.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The judgement of the ability to drive after the ingestion of alcohol is at the moment limited to judgement based on BAK (blood alcohol concentration). The application of the BAK in foro should be reduced and the overall clinical assessment re-introduced into the scope of medico-legal practice. Video technology makes it possible to reproduce a standardized and objective test battery model whereby the risk which a driver may present in traffic can be judged by experts and the court after the presentation of the video-tape. The following seven objective tests were conducted with 15 test persons: orientation and behavior; weight perception (determined on the level hand, which of the two coins weighing approx. 3 and 5 grams respectively is heavier); pick up matches; finger to finger test; counting backwards; speaking test (tongue twisters); postrotatonic nystagmus. The evaluation of the individual tests (0-1-2-3) are described accurately; a total evaluation is proposed. Since different functional aspects are examined, four of the seven tests should have no mistakes before somebody is judged to be a 'risky driver'. Two video-tapes show how the individual evaluation of the tests is conducted as well as three complete individual cases (0.75 o/oo = risky driver; 0.85 o/oo = no risk; approx. 0.95 o/oo = risky driver). The alcohol content of the test person was reliably determined by three breath tests and one blood sample. Copies of the videotapes are available. This technique gives expected results: some risky drivers are already found who are below the alcohol limit of 0.8 o/oo and on the other hand, there are drivers above 0.8 o/oo who do not represent a danger in traffic. With the method described above the individual biological limit of driving-capability after the ingestion of alcohol can be determined; the same method could most probably also be employed with the in-take of drugs, fatigue, illness etc. A more extensive field study is required to re-examine the reliability and validity of the test batteries and to develop compulsory directives. It is pointed out that a differential punishment of drivers will be possible after an eventual introduction of the video technique.