Center for Alcohol and Drug Education Studies (CADES) Center for Transportation Safety Dr. Maurice Dennis 1
Center for Alcohol and Drug Education Studies (CADES)
Center for Transportation Safety
Dr. Maurice Dennis
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Purpose
Conduct research on alcohol and drug effects Develop alcohol and drug training materials Provide alcohol and drug training
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Background
Pre-Test Alcohol and Driving Questions
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Pre-Test___ 1. A typical 12 oz. can of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a 1 oz.
shot of 80 proof whiskey.
___ 2. Reaction time is the first ability adversely affected by alcohol.
___ 3. A good guide for elimination of alcohol is 1 drink per hour.
___ 4. Intoxicated drivers are less likely to die in a crash because of being
limber.
___ 5. Most people will appear intoxicated at .08.
___ 6. Drugs other than alcohol are not a significant traffic accident problem.
F
F
F
F
F
T/F
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Alcohol and Driving Questions
Does alcohol affect:• Driving ability?• Risk of a fatal crash?• Risk of dying in a fatal crash?• Chance of crash responsibility?
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Low BAC ImpairmentsImpairments Categories Lowest BAC for Impairment
Vigilance .06
Visual Functioning .01
Driving .03
Information Processing .02
Divided Attention .02
Perception .02
Reaction Time .05
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Risk of Fatal Crash(Single Vehicle)
Age BAC.020 - .049 .080 - .099 .150+
16 – 2021 – 34
35+
Why is age a factor?
4 32 4,728 3 23 2,171
3 21 1,685
• Inexperience as drivers
• Inexperience as drinkers
• Risk takers
• Late night drivers
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BAC and Crash ResponsibilityBAC % Responsible for Crash
.01 - .05 64%
.05 - .079 88%
.08 - .149 92%
.15 and greater 96%
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Risk of Death in a CrashBAC Increased Chance of Death
.03 1.2
.07 1.5
.12 2.4
.17 2.5
.22 3.7
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BAC and Visible IntoxicationBAC Visible Intoxication
.08 - .10 No reliable signs in most people
.15 Over 50% show one or more intoxication signs
.20 + Virtually all drinkers (including alcoholics) appear visibly
intoxicated
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Alcohol-Related Fatalities After Drinking Age Raised to 21
United States-15%
Texas-20%
Maryland(Zero-Tolerance)
-33%
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Problems With Proving Impairment From Drugs
No per se limit
Must prove physical or mental faculties affected
Some drugs linger in the body for a long time
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Problems of Conducting Drug/Driving Effects Research
Legal• Age• Controlled Substances
Other• Subjects• Safety issues• IRB constraints• Interpretation of results
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Possible Solutions to Alcohol/Drug Driving Problems
Stronger laws• Lower BAC
• Per Se BAC to .05
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Should the Per Se BAC Limit be .05?
.04 motor carrier rule reduced alcohol related fatal crashes by 23%
BAC’s less than .04 cause impairment and increased crash risk
2000 lives would likely be saved if per se limit was lowered to .05
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Possible Solutions to Alcohol/Drug Driving Problems
Stronger laws• Lower BAC
• Per Se BAC to .05
• Mandatory blood tests• Time of test rather than time of
driving laws are needed• Ignition Interlock Devices on all
vehicles• Reduce alcohol sales hours
Per Se drug laws Increase alcohol costs
• Price• Tax
Alcohol ads• Prohibit or reduce TV, etc. ads• Prohibit ads slanted towards
young people Education• Better alcohol server training• Better alcohol/drug education
in K – 12• Offender Education
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Examples of Activities
DWI Education Program Youth Alcohol Awareness Program Drug and Alcohol Driving Awareness Program (DADAP) Texas District and County Attorneys Association – Alcohol
and Drug Presentation Alcohol and Ignition Interlock Training for Adult Probation
Officers Training for TxDPS Forensic Scientists Experiments on effects of alcohol on driving Expert Witness Training Program
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Expert Witness Training Program for Alcohol/Drug Related Courses
Train cadre of Expert Witnesses for DWI, Intoxication Assault, and Intoxication Manslaughter cases
Work with prosecutors to:• Analyze police and accident reports• Interpret BAC data• Prepare questions for defense experts• Provide expert witness testimony
3-year project sponsored by TxDOT
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Case 1
STOP
STOP
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.16 / 80mph
.02
Case 2
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.23 / 80 mph
Expert Witness Locations
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Center for Alcohol and Drug Education StudiesCenter for Transportation Safety
Dr. Maurice DennisEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 979-845-9929Fax: 979-845-4872
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