With the reunification of Germany, the eastern part of Germany raised the legal BAC limit from zero to 0.08 percent. To study the effects of this change, an extended roadside survey was conducted in two contiguous border states that were formerly in East and West Germany. Based on a representative random sample, the survey was conducted in three waves: the first, 2 months before the legal change on January 1 1993; the second, 5 months after; and the third, in June 1994. More than 21,000 drivers participated, with more than 95 percent agreeing to a breath test. During daytime hours, 5 percent of drivers were found to be alcohol positive, with approximately 0.5 percent having BAC values greater than 0.08 percent. greater than 0.08 percent. For night time drivers, 15 percent were found to be alcohol positive with 1.5 percent having a BAC greater than 0.08 percent. Comparison among the different waves showed that the change in legislation was not a cue for the general driving population to alter its drink driving behaviour. However, young drivers and hard-core drinkers reacted markedly to the change. In East Germany the percentage of intoxicated drivers increased as the drivers' ages decreased. In addition, the average BAC of East German drivers involved in accidents increased significantly after reunification. (A)
Samenvatting