This article describes the two methods used to measure whether a driver has drunk too much or not, and the legal and scientific problems associated with each (breath test or blood test) are briefly discussed. The procedures used to determine blood alcohol content are also presented and discussed as are the statistics of driving under the influence of alcohol collected by various countries and under various conditions. The relationship between blood alcohol level and accident rate is then analysed and evidence given to test the hypothesis that the increased risk of an accident is due to alcohol alone, and not to an overall personality trait of which drunken driving is only one symptom. Measures used to reduce alcohol related accidents are then presented and discussed.
Samenvatting