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Related Experiment Videos

Potential risks of providing drinking drivers with BAC information.

Mark B Johnson1, Robert B Voas

  • 1Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Calverton, Maryland 20705, USA. mjohnson@pire.org

Traffic Injury Prevention
|February 3, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Personal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tests can help drinkers estimate their limit, but accuracy is crucial. A study found the Guardian Angel test often underestimated actual BACs, potentially leading to risky driving decisions.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Driving laws are based on blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
  • Accurate BAC estimation tools are needed for drinkers to make informed decisions about driving.
  • Existing BAC estimation tools have rarely been tested for effectiveness in real-world settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the benefits and risks of providing drinkers with tools to estimate their BAC.
  • To examine the field usability and accuracy of a commercially available personal alcohol test, the Guardian Angel (GA).

Main Methods:

  • A pilot study was conducted in a natural drinking environment at a university.
  • Drinkers self-administered and interpreted the GA saliva test.
  • Participants' self-assessments and GA test interpretations were compared to breathalyzer BAC measurements.

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Main Results:

  • Most participants could administer the GA test.
  • GA test interpretations frequently did not match actual BACs, producing false-negatives (underestimations).
  • Interpreting GA results led participants to perceive themselves as less intoxicated.

Conclusions:

  • Providing BAC information to drinkers has potential pros and cons.
  • Field testing of BAC estimation tools is essential to ensure accuracy.
  • Inaccurate BAC tests pose risks by potentially encouraging impaired driving.