LOW BLOOD-ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS AND DRIVING IMPAIRMENT - A REVIEW OFEXPERIMENTAL STUDIES AND INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION

While noting that there is no international sci entific or legislative uniformity in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels admissible for driving motor vehicles, the authors analyse problems concerning the e ffects of low levels of ethyl alcohol on driving ability. A summary of the international literature on this subject reveals : the existence of contrasting assumptions, with scientific evidence clearly demonstra ting altered psychomotor functions; the need to adopt sufficiently com plex psychometric tests to reveal the effects of low BACs; the need to improve standardization of experimental studies on man-machine intera ction; the need to investigate the following areas: tolerance to alcoh ol; low BACs with inexperienced, infrequent drinkers and chronic, heav y drinkers; hangover effects; alcohol-gender-age interactions, and spe cific effects on young drivers; alcohol-drug combinations. The analysi s of legislation and enforcement policies also reveals the need for: r e-evaluation of the international legal BAC threshold and standardizat ion of procedures for ascertaining the degree of driving disability; f urther scientific research to compare and evaluate selected legislativ e initiatives currently in place in most states; to identify the best strategies and procedures to detect and arrest impaired drivers; to de termine the optimum random testing rate to maximize deterrent effects in the workplace at minimal cost; to design innovative and comprehensi ve approaches to rehabilitation programs needed for subgroups of offen ders and of workers; to study the effectiveness of new legislations an d policies.