Comments on: Are you drunk?

By: Stephen G

Stephen G — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:09:03 +0000

Robert,

I think I can get to 0.5 ppm just *looking* at a beer. Perhaps you meant .05% BAC (blood alcohol content)?

This article lists limits per-country. E.g., Germany: 0.05% except for learner drivers, all drivers 18-21 and newly licensed drivers of any age for first two years of licence who have a zero tolerance / 0.00% limit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_alcohol_content

By: George

George — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:59:40 +0000

Volvo has a patent for avoiding drink/drive problems, I think they included a blow test in the ignition key. If you test positive the car just won’t start. Don’t know if they already offer this as option. There’s also a speed limit depending on who’s driving (imagine you lend you car to your 19 year old son….). Now they offer cars that stop by themselves if you are just about to crash… Also some cars (I think MB) are able to scan you eyes in case you start closing them too much, or lane detectors that sound an alarm if you drift…
My point being: Police controls are OK but way too far from being really effective. Cars should have enough technology on board to avoid drunk or unfit people to drive.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:38:58 +0000

Hmm, interesting view, but in reality it’s tough to make, i guess, since everyone is different as you point out. Also, there are various effects that can make you behave like under alcohol – e.g. skipping sleep for 1 night gives you a delay on reaction etc. equivalent to about 1,0 ppm alcohol.

Still, it is reflected in German laws – the barrier for blood alcohol that you are allowed to have is higher, when you don’t behave strangely in traffic. If you get caught behaving strangely, it’s sufficient to have a lower alcohol blood level than if you are perfectly fine to steer your vehicle. If i am not mistaken, legal limits are below 0,5 ppm when you’re ok driving and below 0,3ppm when you drive funny

A couple of years ago, there was a discussion in Germany (dunno if it’s been introduced) is to also make driving ability tests for elderly, since you basically got your drivers license for life – until something happened. Like my grandpa, who had parkinson and got restrictions after colliding with his neighbour’s car, parked across the street, repeatedly while backing out of his driveway.

But since elderly who are similarly affected when maneuvering a vehicle regarding, reaction speed, view, peripheral view, coordination, there was a reaction to regularly get tested – not on every drive though.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:25:05 +0000

Taxis are great but in smaller towns they are far and few between – here in Catalunya the speed combined with drinking is lethal. There needs to be better control for speed as well as testing for level of intoxication. And what about drug testing? It’s clear that the number of accidents is directly related to the level of intoxication by some mind-altering substance.

By: Dave Stone

Dave Stone — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:10:43 +0000

I wonder if 23andme could do anything here…

By: Martín

Martín — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:04:14 +0000

the thing is that most of drunk drivers think that they are perfectly capable of driving. And the test of coordination and reflex are very complex. The best thing to do is not to drive and take a cab (and I have to recognise that I’ve driven under the effects of alcohol, but if I wasn’t a student and could afford to pay a taxi everynight i would do it…)

If with alcohol test you can save one single life it’s worth it… but maybe they should also do coordination and reflex test.

It’s true that thanks to alcohol test people (in my case students) think things twice before drinking and driving.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:27:57 +0000

Right… However, the alphabet backwards could be avoided…

I imagine the ‘in-car test’ like a small console you plug in your car (could be done on your phone, but too hard to link to your car system!), and if you successfully pass the ‘coordination’ and ‘reflex’ test, you’re good to ignite the engine and go…