[Blood alcohol concentration and effect, traffic medicine characteristics and legal traffic relevance of alcohol limit values in road traffic].

Since the expert report of the Federal Health Office (FHO) in 1966 (also compare FHO expert report 1977) numerous papers about the influence of small doses of alcohol on driving ability have been published (see Blood Alcohol, Alcohol, Drugs and Behavior). These papers emphasise the possibility to prove an acute influence on the central nervous system of man with characteristic consequences for his readiness to perform and his general effectiveness with regard to the safe conduct of a vehicle above a concentration of blood alcohol from 0.2 to 0.3% upwards. This experimentally observed increase in knowledge which conforms with jurisdiction i.e. assuming the possibility of alcohol-effected reduced driving ability above 0.3% in individual cases, -however, does not include a regular capability to detect a reduced driving ability for a range in blood alcohol concentration of 0.3% to 1.0% (see opinion of the directors and boards in the German Society for Legal Medicin, 1984). From All presentations the following conclusions may be drawn regarding the level and traffic medicals als well as psychophysical relevance and the forensic importance of alcohol threshold values in road traffic: 1. The 0.0% would be consistent. Each trace of blood alcohol can influence driving ability. Such a limit would, however, be linked to an intolerable cover-up-level. 2. The threshold level to prove the effect of alcohol lies at 0.3% to 0.4% as a basic value (jurisdiction = 0.3%). This level must definitely be regarded as preventing traffic accidents. FREUDENBERG, 1966: At 0.4% the relative probability to become involved a lethal traffic accident is 2.1 times higher than the sober value. BORKENSTEIN, 1964/74: At 0.4% the relative probability to cause an accident is not significantly higher than the sober value. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.4% may be proven by an analytical average value of 0.5% (safety margin: 0.1%). From legal and traffic medical viewpoint nothing contradicts the intention to establish an abstract danger ceiling at 0.4 + 0.1% = 0.5% linked to unlawful behaviour and the prohibition to drive. 3. The danger ceiling presently in operation contains a basic value of 0.6 to 0.7% and a safety margin of 0.15% = 0.8%. At 0.6 to 0.7% the majority of drivers are unable to participate in the traffic. FREUDENBERG, 1966: At 0.7% the relative possibility to become involved in an traffic accident is 3.7 times higher als compared to the sober value. BORKENSTEIN: At 0.7% the relative probability to cause an accident in increased 2.7 times.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)