ALCOHOL AND ROAD TRAFFIC

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 11, 1 February 1951, Page 4

ALCOHOL AND ROAD TRAFFIC

First International Conference STOCKHOLM. 1950 Following a decision taken by the International Temperance Union at Lucerne in 1948, the Swedish Temperance Group undertook to organise at Stockholm, under the chairmanship of Governor Ruben Wagnsson and with the aid, as general secretary, of 1 Erector Sten Rosell, admirably seconded by his wife, Mrs. Jeanne Rosell, an international conference on alcohol and road traffic. The Crown Prince of Sweden, H.R.H. Gustavos Adolphus, had kindly assumed the patronage of the Conference and the Honorary Committee was composed of the highest Swedish authorities with H.E. Mr. Erlandcr, Prime Minister and H.E. Mr. Osten, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at their head. The Swedish Government had undertaken to unite the foreign governments to 'send delegates, and 22 countries had accepted. Among them were the representatives of the governments of Belgium, Canada, France, Great* Britain, Holland and Swit?.eiland.

The Transports Organisation of the United Nations had delegated Mr. Thrupp, and the World Health Organisation. Dr. Wolff. At its first meeting the Conference elected as president Minister Tapio Voionmaa, General Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Helsinki, and president of the International Temperance l nion, whose ability and discretion greatly contributed to make the debates run smoothly. The reports and discussions which followed plainly showed that much effort will still he required in all countries to combat the ‘danger of alcohol at the wheel. It is comprehensible that the winegrowing countries should he inclined to consider the grosser forms of alcoholism as the great danger to traffic safety, whereas it i*. the cases of slight intoxication, often regarded with a

smile, which are the most to he feared For it is the early stages of intoxication which give the driver a false feeling of security whilst a person in a state of advanced drunkenness becomes very quickly incapable of driving a motor vehicle at all.

Opinions at Stockholm were divided upon the best methods of diagnosing intoxication in its early stage; this was -*een in the discussions of the first day.

Whilst the northern countries and Switzerland ari in favour of the blood test, completed by the clinical diagnostic which is dependent on the attitude of the doctor with regard to alcohol, England regards this test as ah infringement of the liberty of the subject and other countries, like Italy and Spain, leave the diagnosis entirely to the examining physician. The United States, on the other hand, recommend a combined chemical and medical examination, hut instead of the blood test they prefer tin* expired air test, for which they employ the “drunkometer.” several models of which were on view* at Stockholm, doubtless for the first time in Europe* In some of these models the presence of alcohol is revealed by the use of a reagent of potassium permanganate and sulphuric acid. Professor Harger of the University of Indianopolis, presented a

“drunkometer” which is widely used in the Lffiited States. The person suspected of being under the influence of alcohol breathes into an indiarubber buffi from which the air passes through the reagents. Professor Greenberg, of Yale University, has doubtless carried the mechanisation farthest. His apparatus works automatically and with all the technical guarantees, so that the subject has only to breathe into a tube and the police agent, after pressing successively a series of buttons, obtains in 8 minutes, marked upon a dial, the amount of the blood alcohol content.

The Canadian expert, Smith, among others, uses for the expired air test, small test tube* which absorb the alcohol.

Prof. Dettling, Director of the medico-legal Institute of Berne Uni-

versity, protested energetically against the practice of entrusting chemical analyses to police agents. None but a medical man should be allowed to carry out Mood, urine, or breath analyses and to supply clinical tests. The same rapporteur, at a special medical meeting was able to give the precise results of experiments carried out in his Institute showing the slowing down of acoustic and visual reflexes after a consumption of wine producing a Mood alcohol content of 1 to 1.5 per cent. Prof. Goldberg, first* rapporteur, dt inonstrated with the aid of abundant material, tiiat the same quantity oi alcohol, taken in the fc rm of spirits, produces a higher blood alcohol content than would he the case for an equivalent quantity of beer. In tlu discussions the luminous remarks of Prof. Liljestrand of the Medical Institute pi Stockholm, were followed with the greatest interest.

I lie second day of the conference was devoted to the study of the legal measures proposed for combating the danger of alcohol at the wheel.

Here great differences of conception were revealed. However, all the members vyere agreed upon the efficacy of the withdrawal of the dtiving licence. M. Thierv, president of the Belgian Automobile Club, declared this measure to lie the best possible deterrent. In Finland, on the other hand, the driver under the influence of alcohol, in the case of an accident, may he liable to a prison sentence of as much as seven v ears.

1 here was also a great divergency oi views in regard to the blood alcohol content which may he tolerated. In Norway the limit is fixed at 0.5% with a margin of 0.15%, whereas Switzerland admits in genera! a maximum alcohol content of 1% for private drivers (the professional chauffeur being obliged to abstain from an > alcohol consumption while lie is on duty). »

Ihe third day o ■ the conference was devoted to questions relating to temperance education and teaching. TF speakers were Bentley (English), Blomberg (Swedish), Rognlien (Not wegian) and Simila (Finnish). The observations of Mr. Thrupp, chief 6 the Transports Section of the Economic and Social Council of the Unite* Nations were likewise much appreciated.

Very interesting also were Mr Nelker’s remarks stating that ion' insurance Companies granted abstaining motorists a reduction of on their insurance premium.

Swedish hospitality was marked by a luncheon party offered by the city of Stockholm in the rooms of the magnificent town hall. An excursion by boat “under the bridges of Stockholm’’ was greatly enjoyed by all the participators. On the last evening of the Conference the members took part in a very animated dinner in one of the halls of tlie Skansen, the open-air museum o* Stockholm. The second International Conference on alcohol and traffic will probably he held in Canada. It will Inorganised by a committee composed of five members,.