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Title:

ALCOHOL-IMPAIRMENT TESTS FOR DWI ARRESTS

Accession Number:

00315350

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Find a library where document is available


Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309029953

Abstract:

A study undertaken to develop an improved battery of field tests of driver sobriety is discussed. In most states, 0.10 percent is the blood alcohol concentration at which a driver is presumed to be driving while intoxicated, but the mean blood alcohol concentration of arrested drivers is closer to 0.17 percent. This reflects the difficulty of the police officer's task. Tests for determining whether a motorist is driving while intoxicated and whether an arrest should be made must be sensitive to alcohol impairment and meet the severe constraints imposed by limited time and the characteristics of the roadside environment. Six types of tests were selected for evaluation based on the literature, field observations, and pilot studies. In a laboratory study, 10 police officers administered the tests to 238 participants at 0-0.15 percent levels of blood alcohol concentration. Based on analysis of the data, a battery of three tests was selected: one-leg stand, walk and turn, and alcohol gaze nystagmus. By using the police officers' scores for these three tests, it was possible to correctly classify 83 percent of the participants as above or below 0.10 percent blood alcohol concentration. (Authors)

Supplemental Notes:

Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Vehicle User Characteristics. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

Monograph Accession #:

00387811

Report/Paper Numbers:

HS-029 539

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Burns, Marcelline
Moskowitz, Herbert

Editors:

McLaughlin, M
Vumbaco, B J

Pagination:

pp 1-4

Publication Date:

1979

Serial:

Transportation Research Record

Issue Number: 739
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 0361-1981

ISBN:

0309029953

Media Type:

Print

Features:

Figures (1) ; References (6)

Old TRIS Terms:

Subject Areas:

Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies

Files:

HSL, TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Sep 16 1984 12:00AM

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