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The article discusses the results of a study on the link of alcohol-impaired drivers with child passenger accidents in the U.S. from 2011 to 2020. Topics mentioned include the relation of the blood alcohol concentration of child's driver and the fatality rate of child passenger, the contribution of unrestrained child passengers in the fatality rate, and the need to address how to prevent child passenger accidents.

The authors discuss the need for universal objective standards for DUIC, combined with consistent driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC)-specific offenses and sanctions, to ensure highway safety. Topics include an increase in prevalence of DUIC and in fatal motor vehicle collisions in U.S. states and other countries following recreational cannabis legalization and challenges that underscore the complexities in developing clear, consistent and enforceable policies to limit DUIC.

In 2011, China implemented tougher driving-under-the-influence laws, which criminalized driving under the influence of alcohol for the first time and increased penalties. This paper provides the first comprehensive analysis of the effects of stricter drinking policies on men's smoking behavior by using data from the 2010 and 2012 waves of the China Family Panel Studies. The results show that stricter drinking policies reduced smoking initiation and the number of cigarettes smoked per day among men by reducing the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption. Heterogeneity analyses show that the impact of the policy is more pronounced not only for men aged 41–55, but also for men who have higher educational qualifications, who are employed, or who are not members of the Communist Party. • Tougher driving-under-the-influence laws subject offenders to more severe penalties. • Stricter drinking policy affects men's smoking behavior. • Stricter drinking policy reduces frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption of men. • Policy effect is stronger for men aged 41–55, educated, employed, or party-affiliated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To comprehensively review enacted and proposed alcohol laws and existing impact evaluations of national alcohol policies in Chile. Methods: We searched enacted laws in the Chilean National Library of Congress, proposed laws in the websites of the House of Deputies and Senate and impact evaluations in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, JSTOR, Epistemonikos and OpenGrey from inception to February 2019. Eligibility criteria included enacted laws and proposed laws on national alcohol policies and research studies evaluating the impact of national alcohol policies. One author screened enacted laws and proposed laws; two authors independently screened research records. We included any national alcohol policy intervention and classified policies according to 10 World Health Organization (WHO) alcohol policy domains. We used the Cochrane EPOC Review Group criteria to assess risk of bias of research records. We registered the review protocol in PROSPERO, registration record CRD42016050156. Results: We identified and screened 229 enacted laws, 138 proposed laws and 1538 research records. Of these, 72 enacted laws, 118 proposed laws and three research articles were eligible for synthesis. We found enacted policies in all WHO alcohol policy domains. Regarding the most cost‐effective policies, Chile has made limited use of taxation, has not regulated alcohol marketing and has weakened alcohol availability regulation. We found a large number of proposed laws, 79% of which would strengthen alcohol control. The few impact evaluation studies examined drink‐driving policies and found a short‐term reduction of alcohol‐related injuries and deaths. Conclusions: Chile has enacted alcohol policies in all World Health Organization policy domains, but has not adopted policies with highest likely cost‐effectiveness. Only the impact of drink‐driving policies has been evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driving under the influence of illicit drugs is a critical road safety and public health concern. The U.S. National Drug Control Strategy has set a goal in 2010 to lower drugged driving significantly. In this study we presented a complex systems approach and developed a system dynamics (SD) model of drugged driving for assessing the impact of drugged driving per se law on the crash fatalities over time. The experimental analyses presented the behavioral change on the trend of number of annual drug-related fatally injured drivers when per se law is implemented with certain effect and investigated on the impact of drugged driving per se law on the number drug-related fatally injured drivers. By considering multiple interrelated factors that may influence drugged driving behaviors, the SD model was helpful in analyzing the potential "real world" impact of policy interventions on improving roadway safety and the behavior of drivers given the road infrastructure. Analyses showed that per se law would have negative exponential effect on the drugged driving fatalities over time and the policy effect would require time to be visible. In addition, combining policies of drugged driving and investing on public transportation would cause a higher change over time on reversing the trend of number of drugged driving-related crashes, however, cost effectiveness of policies still need further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To study the impact of alcohol control policy measures (i.e. increases in taxation, restrictions on availability, including minimum purchasing age regulations, legislation on drink driving and advertisement bans) on alcohol‐related traffic harm in Lithuania between January 2004 and February 2019. Design Analyses of trend data on the proportion of alcohol‐related collisions and crashes, injury and mortality, adjusting for secular trends, seasonality, periods of alcohol control measure implementation and economic development. Generalized additive mixed models were used. Multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted. Setting: Lithuania. Cases Monthly number of alcohol‐related cases of traffic collisions and crashes, injuries and deaths. Interventions and comparators: Periods of time during which new alcohol control measures were implemented and/or augmented compared to periods when they were not. Measurements Monthly data for 2004 to 2019 from routine statistics of the Lithuanian Road Police Service. Findings All indicators decreased consistently and significantly after the implementation of alcohol control measures, including increased taxation, reduction of availability and a ban on advertisement, starting in 2014. On average, each implemented policy measure permanently reduced the proportion of alcohol‐attributable crashes by 0.55% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.21–0.90%; P = 0.002], the proportion of alcohol‐attributable injuries by 0.60% (95% CI = 0.24–0.97%; P = 0.001) and the proportion of alcohol‐attributable deaths by 0.13% (95% CI = 0.10–0.15%; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Alcohol control policy measures, including measures to reduce overall level of alcohol consumption, were associated with a marked decrease in alcohol‐related traffic harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ambiguity of modern laws in the U.S. with respect to autonomous vehicles and driving under the influence (DUI). Also cited are the different levels of autonomy and the emerging technologies in autonomous cars, the possible safety benefits in using self-driving cars, and the tests used by the courts to determine actual physical control (APC) of vehicles.

Twenty-nine Americans die in alcohol-impaired driving crashes daily. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report that identified strategies to reduce alcohol-impaired driving deaths. One strategy suggests amending state laws to reduce the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from 0.08 to 0.05. Although BAC 0.05 laws would likely reduce alcohol-related deaths, they are also controversial. Critics object to these laws because they restrict individual liberty and fail to consider that individuals value social drinking. We explored the ethical acceptability of BAC 0.05 laws. We made an ethical argument in support of BAC 0.05 laws, which include preventing harm to both drinking drivers and to others. We then considered and rejected liberty-based objections to BAC 0.05 laws. We concluded that BAC 0.05 laws are not only ethically defensible but desirable. States and Congress should work to promote them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Florida law, an individual is not guilty of driving under the influence of drugs unless impairment is observed and is due to one or more controlled drugs listed in the Florida Statutes. Many prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and novel psychoactive compounds that can cause significant impairment are not included in this list. Five other states within the USA including Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon have similar or other restrictive language in their impaired driving statutes. From January of 2007 to February of 2018, 1,344 blood specimens and 1,796 urine specimens were analyzed for drugs in impaired driving cases in Palm Beach County, Florida. Over the past 11 years, 21% (212 out of 1,028) of all drug-positive blood specimens and 47% (711 out of 1,527) of all drug-positive urine specimens contained at least one non-controlled drug, often mixed with controlled drugs. Despite documentation of observed impairment with the concurrent identification of impairing drugs, an impaired driving charge could not be supported due to the phrasing of the law in Florida. If the intent of drug-impaired driving laws is to improve safety by removing impaired drivers from the road, a more all-encompassing "any impairing drug" law would be more appropriate. Linking the charge to a drug possession law framework or using other restrictive language is not the most effective means to improve road safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Examined driving under the influence of prescription opioids (DUIPO) in Ontario, Canada. • Past-year prevalence of DUIPO among Ontario adults was 3.1%. • After adjusting for other factors, DUIPO increased odds of a collision almost twofold. • Implications for health and legislative policy and research needs are discussed. Abstract Background Motor vehicle collisions are an important contributor to prescription opioid use-related morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of driving under the influence of prescription opioids (DUIPO) in Ontario, Canada, and to measure the association between this behaviour and the risk of a motor vehicle collision. Methods Data were based on telephone interviews with 7857 respondents who reported having driven in the past year. Data were derived from the 2011–2016 cycles of the CAMH Monitor , an ongoing cross-sectional representative survey of adults aged 18 years and older. A binary logistic regression analysis of collision involvement in the previous 12 months was conducted and included demographic characteristics (sex, age, marital status, education, income, region), driving exposure, poor mental health, non-medical use of prescription opioids, and driving after use of alcohol. Results The prevalence of past-year DUIPO was 3.1%. Controlling for demographic characteristics, driving exposure, and other risk factors, self-reported DUIPO significantly increased the odds of a collision (Adj OR = 1.97; 95% CI 1.08, 3.60; p = 0.026). Conclusion Based on these findings, DUIPO is a notable road safety issue. Research focused on better understanding the impact of prescription opioids on driver behaviour, reducing the prevalence of DUIPO, and improving drug-impaired driving policy and interventions should be prioritized in public health strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) may be higher in U.S. and Mexico border cities as compared to nonborder cities in each country. We examine rates and correlates of self-reported DUI arrests or stops on both sides of the border, drawing on a large-scale survey of 4,796 Mexicans and Mexican Americans in border and nonborder cities of Texas and two states in Mexico. Findings varied by site and country and did not consistently show higher rates on the border. DUI prevention efforts should consider the heterogeneity of local conditions and needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Most countries have laws against driving while impaired by drugs. However, in many countries, including Canada and the United States, police must have individualized suspicion that the driver has recently used an impairing substance before they can gather the evidence required for laying a criminal charge. This report studies police documentation of drug involvement among drivers who had a motor-vehicle crash after using an impairing substance. Methods We obtained blood samples and police reports on injured drivers treated in participating British Columbia trauma centres following a crash. Blood was analyzed for alcohol, cannabinoids, other recreational drugs, and impairing medications. Corresponding police reports were examined to determine whether police recorded that the driver’s ability was impaired by alcohol, drug or medication, or that one of these substances was a possible contributory factor in the crash. Results We obtained blood samples and corresponding police reports on 1816 injured drivers. Mean driver age was 44 years, 63.2% were male, and 25.8% were admitted to hospital. Alcohol was detected in 272 drivers (15.0%), THC (tetrahydrocannabinol - the principal psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) in 136 (7.5%), other recreational drugs in 166 (9.1%), and potentially impairing medications in 363 (20.0%). Police reported that the driver’s ability was impaired by alcohol or that alcohol was a possible contributory factor in 64.1% of the crashes involving alcohol-positive drivers. Drug impairment or drugs as a possible contributory factor was reported in 5.9% of the crashes involving THC-positive drivers, and in 16.9% of the crashes involving drivers who tested positive for other recreational drugs. Medication impairment was reported in only 2.2% of the crashes involving medication-positive drivers. Conclusion Police seldom document drug involvement in drivers who were in a crash after using cannabis, other recreational drugs or potentially impairing medications. This finding raises serious concerns about the ability of the police to effectively enforce current drug-impaired driving laws and public health officials’ continued reliance on police crash reports to monitor the prevalence of drug-impaired driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug driving is a significant road safety concern rendering the implementation of roadside drug testing in all Australian jurisdictions. The current research sought to examine the impact of recently introduced roadside oral fluid screening in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Specifically, the study sought to examine drivers’ awareness, perceptions and perceived deterrent impact of these operations and the degree to which they influence likelihood of future drug driving. A total of 801 male and female motorists aged 17–88 years of age completed a phone interview assessing demographics (e.g., driving and drug taking history), awareness and perceived effectiveness of roadside drug testing, and constructs central to both Classical Deterrence Theory (i.e., certainty, severity, swiftness) and reconceptualised deterrence theory (direct and vicarious experiences of both punishment and punishment avoidance) frameworks. Overall, despite an apparent decline in drug driving behaviour since the introduction of roadside testing, a large proportion of driver’s possessed a poor awareness of these operations and did not perceive a high certainty of apprehension. Age, punishment avoidance and vicarious punishment avoidance were found to predict future likelihood of drug driving, whilst Classical Deterrence Theory variables did not. Contrary to expectations and previous studies, few significant differences were found with regards to gender. Findings are interpreted in light of the recency of roadside drug testing in the ACT and the need for future studies to examine the impact of such operations. Further recommendations for augmenting the deterrence of drug driving are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drunk driving has been reported to increase the risk of road traffic accidents associated with death and severe injury. In South Africa, an increase in blood alcohol concentration of as little as 0.01 g per 100 ml above the legal limit may warrant criminal prosecution or the denial of an insurance claim for damages. However, multiple court cases have been withdrawn because of the incompetence of officials at various stages of the investigation. The scope of the mistakes range from poor scene handling to the incorrect handling of blood samples at the laboratory to eventual laboratory testing of blood samples. Using a group of community service doctors (CSDs) as a cohort study group, this study investigated the competency of medical graduates in relation to the medico-legal aspects of drunk driving.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire-based study was done with 150 CSDs. The questionnaire was administered in Afrikaans and English and was dispatched electronically via e-mail. All potential participants were contacted telephonically to obtain verbal consent. Results are displayed as percentages.Results: A response rate of 59.3% was achieved. The results obtained in this study confirm that some CSDs lack competency in handling medico-legal aspects relating to drunk driving, and are thus unable to serve the communities they have been assigned to adequately. Their lack of skills and knowledge suggests that the present undergraduate Clinical Forensic Medicine curriculum is inadequate.Conclusion: It would be beneficial to revise the curriculum for Clinical Forensic Medicine in undergraduate medical training to address the gap in knowledge and practice of various demands of forensic medicine required from new medical graduates and CSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In 2013, the National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB) issued a report recommending that states lower the illegal blood alcohol concentration ( BAC) limit for driving from 0.08 to 0.05 g/dl. The NTSB concluded that there is a strong evidence-based foundation for a BAC limit of 0.05 or lower. Most industrialized nations have already enacted a 0.05 illegal BAC limit. This study was undertaken to contribute to the scientific evidence as to whether lowering the BAC limit to 0.05 will be an effective alcohol policy in the United States. Methods We accomplished our objective by: (i) conducting a meta-analysis of qualifying international studies to estimate the range and distribution of the most likely effect size from a reduction to 0.05 BAC or lower; (ii) translating this synthesis toward estimating the effects of reducing the current 0.08 BAC limit to 0.05 in the United States; and (iii) estimating the life-saving benefits of the proposed 0.03 reduction in the driving limit from 0.08 to 0.05 BAC. Results In our meta-analysis of studies on lowering the BAC limit in general, we found a 5.0% decline in nonfatal alcohol-related crashes, a 9.2% decline in fatal alcohol-related crashes from lowering the BAC to 0.08, and an 11.1% decline in fatal alcohol-related crashes from lowering the BAC to 0.05 or lower. We estimate that 1,790 lives would be saved each year if all states adopted a 0.05 BAC limit. Conclusions This study provides strong evidence of the relationship between lowering the BAC limit for driving and the general deterrent effect on alcohol-related crashes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In Chile, a new law introduced in March 2012 decreased the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving while impaired from 1 to 0.8 g/l and the legal BAC limit for driving under the influence of alcohol from 0.5 to 0.3 g/l. The goal is to assess the impact of this new law on mortality and morbidity outcomes in Chile. Methods A review of national databases in Chile was conducted from January 2003 to December 2014. Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was used for analyzing the data. In a series of multivariable linear regression models, the change in intercept and slope in the monthly incidence rate of traffic deaths and injuries and association with alcohol per 100,000 inhabitants was estimated from pre-intervention to postintervention, while controlling for secular changes. In nested regression models, potential confounding seasonal effects were accounted for. All analyses were performed at a two-sided significance level of 0.05. Results Immediate level drops in all the monthly rates were observed after the law from the end of the prelaw period in the majority of models and in all the de-seasonalized models, although statistical significance was reached only in the model for injures related to alcohol. After the law, the estimated monthly rate dropped abruptly by −0.869 for injuries related to alcohol and by −0.859 adjusting for seasonality (P < 0.001). Regarding the postlaw long-term trends, it was evidenced a steeper decreasing trend after the law in the models for deaths related to alcohol, although these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions A strong evidence of a reduction in traffic injuries related to alcohol was found following the law in Chile. Although insufficient evidence was found of a statistically significant effect for the beneficial effects seen on deaths and overall injuries, potential clinically important effects cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the drug recognition expert protocol and its role in effectively prosecuting drugged drivers in the U.S. Topics discussed include Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael court case on same; Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc. court case on same; and Frye v. United States court case discussing the admissibility of polygraph test as evidence.

The article discusses various aspects of state laws governing driving under the influence of marijuana (DUIM) and public health in the U.S. as of 2017, and it mentions California's legalization of medical marijuana in 1996, as well as support for the legalization of recreational marijuana across America. Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) laws are addressed, along with due process rights, the psychoactivity of marijuana, and a balanced standard for DUIM laws.

Background Driving while impaired ( DWI) is a threat to public health. Codified legal sanctions are a widely implemented strategy to reduce DWI. However, it is unclear that sanctioning affects individual risk perceptions so as to deter alcohol-impaired driving. Methods Using survey data collected from individual drivers, police, and defense attorneys specializing in DWI in 8 U.S. cities, we investigated whether risk perceptions about legal consequences for alcohol-impaired driving, both the risk of being stopped if driving while alcohol-impaired and receiving specific penalties following a DWI, deter alcohol-impaired driving. First, we analyzed how different drivers' risk perceptions about being pulled over and facing criminal sanctions related to their self-reported alcohol-impaired driving in the year following the interview at which risk perceptions were elicited. Second, using data from an experimental module in which individual's risk perceptions were randomly updated by the interview, we analyzed how each driver's beliefs about his or her own future alcohol-impaired driving responded to randomly generated increases in the apprehension probability and sanction magnitude. Results Higher probabilities as estimated by the individuals of being pulled over corresponded to less alcohol-impaired driving in both analyses. Conversely, there was no statistical relationship between perceptions of criminal sanctions for DWI and alcohol-impaired driving with 1 exception-a small significant negative relationship between duration of jail time following a DWI conviction and alcohol-impaired driving. Conclusions Perceptions regarding the threat of being apprehended for alcohol-impaired driving were related to actual self-reported driving, while perceived sanctions following a DWI conviction for DWI generally were unrelated to either actual self-reported alcohol-impaired driving or the person's estimate of probability that he or she would drive while alcohol-impaired in the following year. Increasing certainty of apprehension by increasing police staffing and/or conducting sobriety checks is a more effective strategy for reducing alcohol-impaired driving than legislating increased penalties for DWI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which described the process of adapting and evaluating group curriculum modules for Latino or Spanish speaking clients in a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) social work program in the U.S. Topics covered include testing the acceptability of the group evaluation measure Group Topic Evaluation Scale (GTES), the group topics evaluated in the study such as problem recognition and taking responsibility, and the significance of the study findings.

The article focuses on marijuana impaired driving and driving under the influence laws in several U.S. states including Arizona, Colorado, and New York. Topics discussed include the scientific properties of marijuana, comparison between drunk and drugged driving, and the tetrahydrocannabinol detection in marijuana.

Aims To measure the effectiveness of a high-visibility enforcement campaign to reduce rates of underage drinking and driving. Design Mixed-model analysis compares rates of drinking and driving (1) between the baseline and intervention period and (2) between the baseline and follow-up period. The impact of the intervention was evaluated using roadside surveys and web surveys. Setting Two college-town communities in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Participants Study participants consisted of 6825 drivers stopped, interviewed and breathalyzed on weekend nights. Web survey data were collected from 2061 students from large state universities in each community. Intervention Increased high-visibility enforcement of drinking and driving laws, featuring the use of passive alcohol sensors by police, along with a coordinated publicity campaign. Measures Roadside surveys measured breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC) of drivers. The web surveys measured self-reported drinking. Findings Mixed-model analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in drivers with BrACs ≥ 0.08 g/dl during the intervention and follow-up periods, F(2, 5744) = 6.5, P < 0.01. The web-survey revealed that students under age 21 also reported significantly less driving after drinking during the intervention and follow-up periods, F(2, 1767) = 4.6, P < 0.01. Conclusions A high-visibility enforcement campaign targeting underage drinking and driving appeared to reduce both underage driving after drinking among US college students as well as drunk driving (breath alcohol concentration ≥ 0.08 g/dl) at any age.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trends in the use of alcohol and drugs among motor vehicle drivers in Australia, Brazil, Norway, Spain, and the United States have been reviewed. Laws, regulations, enforcement, and studies on alcohol and drugs in biological samples from motor vehicle drivers in general road traffic and fatal road traffic crashes (RTCs) are discussed. Roadside surveys showed a reduction of drunk driving over time in the studied countries; however, the pattern varied within and between different countries. The reduction of alcohol use may be related to changes in road traffic laws, public information campaigns, and enforcement, including implementation of random breath testing or sobriety checkpoints. For non-alcohol drugs, the trend in general road traffic is an increase in use. However, drugs were not included in older studies; it is therefore impossible to assess the trends over longer time periods. Data from the studied countries, except Brazil, have shown a significant decrease in fatal RTCs per 100,000 inhabitants over the last decades; from 18.6 to 4.9 in Australia, 14.5 to 2.9 in Norway, 11.1 to 3.6 in Spain, and 19.3 to 10.3 in the United States. The number of alcohol-related fatal RTCs also decreased during the same time period. The proportion of fatal RTCs related to non-alcohol drugs increased, particularly for cannabis and stimulants. A general challenge when comparing alcohol and drug findings in biological samples from several countries is connected to differences in study design, particularly the time period for performing roadside surveys, biological matrix types, drugs included in the analytical program, and the cutoff limits used for evaluation of results. For RTC fatalities, the cases included are based on the police requests for legal autopsy or drug testing, which may introduce a significant selection bias. General comparisons between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries as well as a discussion of possible future trends are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examine the laws related to drugged driving in the U.S. state Tennessee. Topics discussed include use of illegal drugs or misuse of prescription drugs can make drugged driving, consequences of legalization of medical marijuana, laws preventing driving under the influence (DUI), prosecution of DUI cases, and Tennessee Law related to drug testing for drugged driving.

Prosecuting DUIs can be challenging because most incidents today do not involve only alcohol. This Article expands on two less straightforward DUI cases: (1) where the presumptive limit is not established wholly with alcohol but other drugs are present, and (2) where the presumptive limit is reached with drugs rather than alcohol. The author provides instruction for effectively prosecuting both DUI cases and methods for the use of expert witnesses that apply to both DUI cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the marijuana legalization movement advances, states face a jurisprudential dilemma in addressing the burgeoning public health issue of "drugged driving." Zero-tolerance laws targeting drivers with any illegal drugs in their systems, currently justified under a "jurisprudence of prohibition" based on the blameworthiness of the drug itself, are no longer a good fit due to legalization. Instead, states have attempted to treat marijuana like alcohol by importing drunk driving's "jurisprudence of dangerousness" through enactment of per se driving under the influence of (DUI) marijuana laws redefining DUI as driving with a certain quantifiable amount of THC, marijuana's main psychoactive compound, in one's blood. These laws are legitimate, legislators claim, because they are analogous to per se .08 percent blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) impairment laws. What lawmakers have forgotten, and what legal scholars have largely neglected, is the buried and colorful history of drunk driving's jurisprudence of dangerousness and the scientific framework for proving the link between specific BACs and crash risk established by the country's first "traffic czar," William Haddon Jr. Under this framework—which focuses first and foremost on fatal single-car crashes and case-control studies with a randomly selected control group—the illegitimacy of the new wave of DUI marijuana laws is painfully obvious. In fact, the few single-car crash and case-control studies that have been conducted have found no relationship between THC blood levels and an increased relative crash risk. Properly understood, the history of drunk driving jurisprudence offers what is still the only valid scientific framework for criminalizing chemical impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the criminal law that prohibits cultivation, distribution, possession, and medical or recreational use of marijuana in the U.S. and states and the problems associated with the drugged driving. Topics discussed include movements related to the small-scale use of marijuana as a medical treatment or for recreational use, legal framework used to identify and punish alcohol-impaired drivers and demand of the legalization of marijuana.

The article examines the sections of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA) toward an interpretation that best effects voter intent regarding extract possession and driving under the influence. Topics discussed include the AMMA's scope; Arizona's medical marijuana program; and interpreting relation between voter intent and AMMA.

The article discusses the Great Britain Supreme Court case R v. Hughes, wherein Michael Hughes was charged on cases dealing with unlicensed and uninsured driving. Topics include the Road Traffic Act of 1988 and the Road Safety Act 2006, homicide conviction, and discrepancies in the court's decision-making wherein the appellant was driving under the influence of drugs.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) reported a rise in vehicle-related accidents in the Philippines. Among those included were caused by human error, over speeding, using cellular phones while driving, and drunk driving. According to the Author, drunk driving is different from the other causes of accidents because, in drunk driving, the lapse of judgment begins even before the inebriated person takes the wheel. Therefore, the need arises for a law that specifically tackles drunk driving. On 27 May 2013, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013 (R.A. No. 10586). The need for such law cannot be emphasized given the lack of sufficient and adequate laws that specifically tackle driving while under the influence of alcohol. However, the law is far from perfect. Section 6 of R . A No. 10586 enumerates the punishable acts involved. One of the tests is the application of "field sobriety tests." The law states that after the law enforcement officer and deputized local traffic enforcement officer have administered the said tests and the driver failed the same, it shall be the duty of the law enforcement officer to implement the mandatory determination of the driver's blood alcohol concentration level through the use of a breath analyzer or similar measuring instrument. The law, thus, hinges mainly upon the subjectiveness of a police officer -- it is up to the police officer to determine the existence of probable cause. The problem, as the Author states, is the fact that the R . A . No. 10586 lacks sufficient standards for the police officer in determining probable cause. This problem is aggravated by the presumption of regularity enjoyed by such officers. After a thorough analysis, the Author concludes that there is a need for the legislature to enact Implementing Rules and Regulations for R . A No. 10586 in order to limit the wide latitude given to the police officers. The Author concluded that given the subjective nature of the law and the presumption of regularity enjoyed by the police officers, there should be a strict compliance rule. All in all, the Author admits that the law is very much needed in Philippine society. But R . A . No. 10586 should not be used to abuse and to harass civilians -- it is just a matter of balancing the rights of individuals and the duty of the government to protect its citizens against drunk drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the law related to offense of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drug in Utah which is codified at Utah Code section 41-6a-502. As mentioned, a person can be booked under the law if the person's body has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of greater than or equal to .08 grams at the time of the test. It also suggests law practitioners who are representing the DUI cases about their hearing with Driver's License Division.

The nonmedical use of prescribed controlled substances has become a major public health problem. This article reviews the extent of prescription drug abuse reflected in drug overdose deaths, youth drug use and drug-impaired driving. Efforts to reduce illegal, nonmedical use of prescribed controlled drugs must be balanced so as not to interfere with appropriate medical use of these medicines. Future policy options include identifying and expanding leadership in the research and medical communities, creation of a national public education campaign, development of abuse-resistant drug formulas, increasing prescription drug monitoring programs and enforcement efforts, establishing effective drugged driving laws, and improving substance abuse treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author explores the legislation Leandra's Law signed by New York City Governor David Paterson, following the death of an 11-year-old Leandra Rosado in a drunk driving accident on the Henry Hudson Parkway on October 11, 2009. He examines whether the mandated alcohol ignition interlock for all convicted driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DWI) offenders was prudent for the state. He says that the law could help reduce the threat of drunk driving accidents.

Abstract: In December 2007, random roadside drug testing commenced in Queensland, Australia. Subsequently, the aim of this study was to explore the preliminary impact of Queensland''s drug driving legislation and enforcement techniques by applying Stafford and Warr''s [Stafford, M.C., Warr, M., 1993. A reconceptualization of general and specific deterrence. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 30, 123–135] reconceptualization of deterrence theory. Completing a comprehensive drug driving questionnaire were 899 members of the public, university students, and individuals referred to a drug diversion program. Of note was that approximately a fifth of participants reported drug driving in the past six months. Additionally, the analysis indicated that punishment avoidance and vicarious punishment avoidance were predictors of the propensity to drug drive in the future. In contrast, there were indications that knowing of others apprehended for drug driving was not a sufficient deterrent. Sustained testing and publicity of the legislation and countermeasure appears needed to increase the deterrent impact for drug driving. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims To quantify blood Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations in chronic cannabis users over 7 days of continuous monitored abstinence. Participants Twenty-five frequent, long-term cannabis users resided on a secure clinical research unit at the US National Institute on Drug Abuse under continuous medical surveillance to prevent cannabis self-administration. Measurements Whole blood cannabinoid concentrations were determined by two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Findings Nine chronic users (36%) had no measurable THC during 7 days of cannabis abstinence; 16 had at least one positive THC ≥0.25 ng/ml, but not necessarily on the first day. On day 7, 6 full days after entering the unit, six participants still displayed detectable THC concentrations [mean ± standard deviation (SD), 0.3 ± 0.7 ng/ml] and all 25 had measurable carboxy-metabolite (6.2 ± 8.8 ng/ml). The highest observed THC concentrations on admission (day 1) and day 7 were 7.0 and 3.0 ng/ml, respectively. Interestingly, five participants, all female, had THC-positive whole blood specimens over all 7 days. Body mass index did not correlate with time until the last THC-positive specimen ( n = 16; r = −0.2; P = 0.445). Conclusions Substantial whole blood THC concentrations persist multiple days after drug discontinuation in heavy chronic cannabis users. It is currently unknown whether neurocognitive impairment occurs with low blood THC concentrations, and whether return to normal performance, as documented previously following extended cannabis abstinence, is accompanied by the removal of residual THC in brain. These findings also may impact on the implementation of per se limits in driving under the influence of drugs legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the depraved indifference murder statute in New York in the context of driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses. Part I of the article gives an overview of the culpable mental states and homicide crimes in the New York Penal Law (NYPL) in order to explain the various offenses and their relation to one another in terms of conduct, culpability and punishment. Part II gives a brief history of depraved indifference murder in New York. Part III discusses why depraved indifference murder cannot apply to most DWI homicides and address the theoretical problems that arise when prosecutors seek murder convictions in these types of cases.

The article discusses the amendments to Great Britain's Road Traffic Act of 1988 (RTA 1988) which criminalizes driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. It states that almost half of prosecutions that involves DUI were dismissed or withdrawn. It explores the government's crackdown on DUI as well as the drug testing. Also detailed is the Drug Driving Regulations 2014 in England and Wales.

The author discusses the article "Ethical Acceptability of Reducing the Legal Blood Alcohol Concentration Limit to 0.05" by Drs. Stephanie Morain and Emily Largent which is published in the same issue concerning a proposed change in U.S. law to reduce the blood alcohol concentration limit for driving to 0.5 grams per deciliter. He mentions rational in reducing the limit including evaluation studies of other nations with that limit, the risk of being in a crash at that limit, and public support.

The article focuses on government-supported initiatives in China to help reduce injury-related deaths. It states injuries are one of the top five causes of death in China in 2018 and cause over 500,000 deaths annually with rural residents and men having the highest mortality rate from injuries. It comments 80 percent of accidental injuries in China are road traffic injuries and mentions the use of infrastructure improvements, legal mandates, and educational campaigns to reduce injury incidence.

The article discusses issues related to health and medicine in the U.S. as of April 2018. Topics covered include a study in China that produced two genetically identical macaques using somatic cell nuclear transfer, evidence that suggests a lower threshold for blood alcohol concentration from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent, and a study in California on mole rat using a model known as the Gompertz Law that works well in mammalian species.