center for alcohol and drug education studies (cades) center for transportation safety dr. maurice...

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: m-dennis@ttimail.tamu.edu

Phone: 979-845-9929Fax: 979-845-4872

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