Citation

Vollrath M, Kazenwadel J. Blutalkohol 1997; 34(5): 344-359.

Affiliation

Psychologisches Institut, 97070 Wurzburg, 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

Driving while intoxicated (with BACs of 0.08 (per mille) and above) is largely undetected as the drivers are either not stopped by the police or are not involved in accidents. However, even if drivers are stopped by the police only about 20 percent of DWI drivers are actually detected as shown in a comparison of the studies of the IFFLAND and the German Roadside Survey. In cases of accidents about 60% of all drink drivers are detected. Following a detailed discussion of methodological prerequisites for studies concerning undetected cases of DWI a ratio of 590:1 is shown for DWI offences and their detection. This means that for every 590 cases of DWI only one is detected. The analyses indicated that random breath alcohol tests carried out by the police are probably the only effective means of improving this situation.