NCJ Number
17554
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
REVEALING FILM ILLUSTRATES LOSS OF DRIVING ABILITY EVEN THOUGH SOME SUBJECTS PASSED POLICE BREATHALYZER TESTS BY HAVING BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS OF LESS THAN 0.1 PERCENT.
Abstract
SIX SUBJECTS WERE GIVEN PRACTICE RUNS, A SOBER TEST RUN, AND DRUNK TEST RUN ON A COURSE AT THE BONDURANT SCHOOL OF DRIVING AT ONTARIO RACEWAY IN CALIFORNIA. ALCOHOLIC INTAKE MEASURED EIGHT OUNCES OF EIGHTY PROOF VODKA ADMINISTERED AS A SCREWDRIVER COCKTAIL. PRIOR TO THE DRUNK TEST, THE SUBJECTS WERE GIVEN BREATHALYZER AND OTHER ROADSIDE DRUNK TESTS. EVERY SUBJECT DID WORSE WHEN HE WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. SOME KNOCKED OVER PYLONS, SOME RAN OFF THE COURSE, AND SOME WERE UNABLE TO STOP THEIR CARS WHEN NECESSARY. THE MOST STARTLING RESULT WAS THAT BOB BONDURANT, THE DESIGNER OF THE COURSE, ALTHOUGH HIS BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.08 PERCENT WAS WELL UNDER THE LEGAL MAXIMUM, HIT MANY PYLONS AND WAS UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE CORRECT LANE IN THE ACCIDENT STIMULATOR.