Blood-alcohol cut for drivers urged

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 3

Blood-alcohol cut for drivers urged

(.Veto Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, August 12. The legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers should be reduced to 30mg per 100 ml blood for those under 24, and 50mg for others, says the senior police surgeon in Dunedin (Dr B. B. Grimmond).

The present legal limit is lOOmg per 100 ml of blood. ' “The public must be aware j of the dangers of drinking 'and driving. They must be protected from the antisocial behaviour of those who drink and drive, and those who drive while disqualified,” Dr Grimmond said. RESEARCH CITED Research at the University of Indiana in 1964 showed that a blood-alcohol level of 50mg per 100 ml was the upper limit at which people could drive with any degree of safety. At that level the probability of having an accident was nearly twice as great as when no alcohol had been consumed, said Dr Grimmond. “At 150 mg per 100 ml the probability of causing an accident is 25 times as great as when no alcohol has been consumed.” Figures formulated in New Jersey showed that a 1601 b man of average build would have to consume two 2oz whiskies or 240 z of beer to have a blood-alcohol level of 50mg per 100 ml. Six ounces of whisky or 360 z of beer would result in

a level of about 70; Boz off whisky or 48oz of beer would give a level of 95; and 10oz! of whisky or 50oz of beer| would produce a level of! j about 120. OTHER FACTORS ! However, Dr Grimmond added, these approximate levels were affected by other factors — a person’s age and drinking experience, their body build, state of health, what food has been consumed with the drink, and in what form the alcohol has been consumed. "Studies have shown that champagne contains a balance of water, alcohol, sugar and carbon dioxide which makes it one of the most readily absorbed of all drinks.” Dr Grimmond said that from scientific evidence, a legal limit of 50 would seem reasonable. "However, from experience as police surgeon, I have noticed that younger people • seem more affected at lower i blood-alcohol levels and it is ■ this group (under 24 years) , which causes the most acci- j dents. VARIOUS LEVELS ] "Therefore, I think there is s a good case for a limit of 1 30mg per 100 ml of blood for t those under 24.” i

Dr Grimmond noted that! (countries such as Britain, JWest Germany, Canada, most d Australian states, and Denimark had legal limits of 80, ! that Norway, Sweden, Jugoslavia and Victoria state had i levels of 50, and that Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, , East Germany and Rumania had had legal limits of 30 for a number of years.