It is essential that social hosts be able to identify guests who may have had too much to drink to drive safely. We explored the efficacy of four sobriety tests for use by individuals with little training (one-leg stand, horizontal gaze nystagmus, backward counting, and ruler drop). Tests predicted BAC with statistically significant accuracy, but prediction accuracy varied. Interobserver reliability was high for each except the nystagmus test. The ruler drop was found to affect self-reported driving decisions most.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BeitmanR.S. (1985). Dram Shop Liability: An Overview of Recent Trends. Trial, 38–40.
2.
ComptonR.P. (1985). Pilot Test of Selected DWI Detection Procedures for Use at Sobriety Checkpoints. (Staff Technical Report No. DOT-H-806724). Washington, D.C.: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
3.
LangenbucherJ.W.NathanP.E. (1983). Psychology, Public Policy, and the Evidence for Alcohol Intoxication. American Psychologist, 38, 1070–1077.
4.
McGuireF.L. (1986). The Accuracy of Estimating the Sobriety of Drinking Drivers. Journal of Safety Research, 17, 81–85.
5.
MosherJ.F. (1979). Dram Shop Liability and the Prevention of Alcohol-related Problems.Berkeley, CA: University of California, Social Research Group, School of Public Health.
6.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (1988). Fatal Accident Reporting System 1987 (NHTSA No. DOT-HS-807071). Washington, D.C.: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
7.
National Safety Council (1988). Accident Facts: 1988 Edition.Chicago, IL: National Safety Council.
8.
TeplinL.A.LutzG.W. (1985). Measuring Alcohol Intoxication: The Development, Reliability and Validity of an Observational Instrument. Journal of Alcohol Studies, 46, 459–466.
9.
TharpV.BurnsM.MoskowitzH. (1981). Development and Field Test of Psychophysical Tests for DWI Arrest (NHTSA No. DOT-HS-801970). Washington, D.C.: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
