INTOXICATED DRIVING

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30176, 6 July 1963, Page 12

INTOXICATED DRIVING

Medical Tests “Not Enough” (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. July 5. Magistrates dealing with persoris accused of driving under the influence of drink should pay more attention to the account given by traffic officers or police than to a doctor’., report, Dr. Graeme Campbell told a traffic officers’ refresher course in Auckland yesterday. Medical tests were not seusiti-ve enough, said Dr. Campbell. Driving was the best test of driving. He told the officers their evidence was the crux of the case until medical tests became more accurate in assessing the degree of intoxication Critics of tests said it was difficult to predict what level of alcohol was in the blood more than half an hour before, at the time of the ‘accident, he said. “It is difficult to know how much drink has been taken because'the blood level may still be rising as assimilation continues or it may be falling off.

“The ideal way of gathering evidence would be to dictate the observations on a suspected motorist while driving along, and for traffic officers and the police to have facilities to collect urine samples on the spot,” said Dr- Campbell. An average person’s driving ability should not be impaired “with a couple of noggins or snorts —three beers or a couple of whiskies —after work.” said Dr Campbell.