Citation

Sperhake J, Tsokos M, Puschel K. Blutalkohol 1998; 35(5): 344-352.

Affiliation

Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, 22529 Hamburg, Germany

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the USA Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (BAIID) have been used for quite some time now in order to reduce driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated and to improve road traffic safety in general. We tested the Alcolock-system which the manufacturer plans to introduce on the German market. The manageability of the device was tested during 6 000 kilometres on the road and generally presented no difficulties. However, in day to use some problems arose with the measurement of breath alcohol which was not always accurate. This problem could largely be eliminated by careful re-calibration of the Alcolock-system. Under standardised conditions the deviations between the breath alcohol concentration and the blood alcohol concentration was tolerable. At times, well-known sources of interference with breath alcohol measurements led to considerable divergences. With the understanding that both legal and technical prerequisites have yet to be established, the Alcolock-system could be used to shorten or even revoke the withdrawal of driving licences for first-time offenders. A further possible use of the system as a probation order in conjunction with medico- psychological examinations has to be discussed.