Citation

Lockemann U, Puschel K. Blutalkohol 1997; 34(4): 241-259.

Affiliation

Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, Universitat Hamburg, 22529 Hamburg, Germany

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, 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 above study deals with the influence of alcohol on certain parts of the vestibular system, essential for driving a car in road traffic. The study included the examining of general co-ordination, vestibulo-spinal function, voluntary ocular motor activity, vestibulo-ocular reflex after pendular stimulation, involuntary ocular activity as well as of otolithic function (not mentioned in literature to date). The study proves that particular parts of the vestibular system as well as the interaction to the different parts are disturbed by the influence of alcohol. Already with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.4(per mille) serious impairment was noticed, in some cases as grave as with a BAC of 0.8(per mille). Drivers have to fulfil complex tasks while driving in road traffic (sometimes made more difficult by poor weather conditions or tiredness) and the fact that the vestibular system in particular is required to manage difficult situations (driving in curves, approaching vehicles, acceleration and deceleration in curves, road signs and objects at the side of the road). Given those facts a lowering of the 0.8(per mille) limit to a maximum of 0.5(per mille) seems essential. As a result of our investigation it can be said that a blood alcohol concentration of 0.4(per mille) brings with it such significant disturbances to the vestibular system, that the safe driving in road traffic is no longer possible.