Fiorentino Dary D, Martin Brian D
a Alliant International University , Department of Industrial/Organizational Psychology , Alhambra , California.
b DF Consulting , Van Nuys , California.
Traffic Inj Prev. 2018 May 19;19(4):345-351. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2018.1424840. Epub 2018 Apr 18.
On May 14, 2013, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) proposed that states lower the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) illegal limit from 0.08 to 0.05 g/dL (also referred to as the 0.08 law and the 0.05 limit, respectively). In March 2017, this recommendation was signed into law in the State of Utah.
The objective of this survey is to investigate perceptions regarding enforcement of the 0.05 g/dL BAC limit.
Opinions of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and defense attorneys were obtained through a series of questionnaires and focus groups.
Survey data were collected from 32 law enforcement officers, 20 prosecutors, and 4 defense attorneys. The participants rated the usefulness of the NHTSA's driving while intoxicated (DWI) driving cues lower for the 0.05 limit than for the 0.08 law. Some of the participants believed that training would be needed in regard to sobriety testing under the 0.05 limit. Participants also stated that adequately preparing for prosecution of drunk drivers would be more difficult under the 0.05 limit. In addition, it was believed that drunk driving cases are more likely to be withdrawn and fewer plea agreements and guilty pleas are likely under the 0.05 limit. Prosecutors were concerned that the 0.05 limit would result in poorly investigated cases and overburden the court system. Defense attorneys were concerned about the social and economic costs of a 0.05 limit.
Overall, it appears that the 0.05 limit is viewed as enforceable and it will save lives; however, the usefulness of the NHTSA DWI Detection Guide and of the standardized field sobriety tests need to be established for lower BACs, and efforts must be made to educate people regarding the relationship between BAC and impairment and impairment and driving with the risk of injury and death.
Though the 0.05 limit offers promise in saving lives, the following issues associated with changing the limit to 0.05 need to be resolved prior to implementation: Validating the sobriety tests for the 0.05 limit; if needed, modifying the sobriety tests to make them effective and valid at the 0.05 limit; and training law enforcement personnel and educating the public regarding the 0.05 limit.
2013年5月14日，美国国家运输安全委员会（NTSB）提议各州将血液酒精浓度（BAC）非法限值从0.08克/分升降至0.05克/分升（分别也称为0.08法律和0.05限值）。2017年3月，这一建议在犹他州签署成为法律。
本次调查的目的是调查对0.05克/分升BAC限值执法情况的看法。
通过一系列问卷调查和焦点小组获取执法人员、检察官和辩护律师的意见。
收集了32名执法人员、20名检察官和4名辩护律师的调查数据。参与者对美国国家公路交通安全管理局（NHTSA）的醉酒驾驶（DWI）驾驶提示在0.05限值下的有用性评分低于0.08法律。一些参与者认为在0.05限值下进行清醒度测试需要培训。参与者还表示，在0.05限值下对醉酒驾驶者提起诉讼进行充分准备会更加困难。此外，人们认为在0.05限值下，醉酒驾驶案件更有可能被撤回，认罪协议和有罪答辩会减少。检察官担心0.05限值会导致案件调查不力，并使法院系统负担过重。辩护律师担心0.05限值带来的社会和经济成本。
总体而言，0.05限值似乎被视为可执行的，并且将挽救生命；然而，需要为更低的BAC值确定NHTSA DWI检测指南和标准化现场清醒度测试的有用性，并且必须努力教育人们了解BAC与损伤以及损伤与驾驶导致受伤和死亡风险之间的关系。
尽管0.05限值有望挽救生命，但在实施之前需要解决与将限值改为0.05相关的以下问题：验证0.05限值的清醒度测试；如有必要，修改清醒度测试以使其在0.05限值下有效；培训执法人员并就0.05限值对公众进行教育。
