NEWS RELEASE

Drinking Lab Shows Drivers Impaired Well Below .08 Percent - Ignition Interlock Effective Tool To Stop Repeat Drunk Drivers

October 5, 2007

SHELTON, WA —A just-completed research demonstration has shown that drivers are dangerously impaired by alcohol at levels well below Washington’s per se intoxication level of .08 percent blood alcohol.

The demonstration, a partnership between the Washington State Patrol, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, was held Wednesday at the WSP Academy in Shelton. It was the first-ever “drinking lab” to involve actual driving by volunteers dosed with precise amounts of alcohol.

“We have a lot of tragic roadside experience which makes us think drivers are affected below .08 percent,” said WSP Chief John  R. Batiste. “It’s great to have precise evidence gathered in a controlled environment that supports what we see in the field.”

In the demonstration, four volunteers were given the precisely-measured drinks and had their blood alcohol measured. They were then asked to drive a slow-speed course that involved turning, backing up and parking. They clearly had trouble maintaining straight travel between traffic cones that delineated the course.

“This project again shows that drivers can be affected by alcohol at levels below .08 percent BAC,” said Lowell Porter, Safety Commission director. “The results of this project will help us to better train law enforcement officers to more accurately identify a drunk driver.  Additionally, these results will give us excellent tools to educate the public and raise their awareness of how new technology can help in the fight against drunk driving.”

The volunteers reported that they felt impaired, and would not have driven, at surprisingly low blood alcohol levels.

“I felt the biggest change between zero and .04 percent,” said volunteer driver Scott Twomey. “I really felt impaired at .04, and certainly would never have gotten behind the wheel of my own car.”

Also demonstrated were alcohol ignition interlocks, devices that some convicted DUI offenders are required to have on their vehicles. The impaired subjects tried to start the cars with the interlocks, but could not do so. Sober troopers then blew in the devices, and the cars started immediately.

“Why do people drive drunk? Because they can,” said MADD National President Chuck Hurley. “These interlocks are sometimes all that stands between people who insist on driving while impaired and their potential victims.”

Safety was a major consideration in the event. The volunteer drinkers were accompanied at all times by a trooper with the WSP’s Impaired Driving section. These are troopers with extra training and skills in dealing with impaired drivers. The vehicles used were equipped with passenger side brakes, meaning that sober troopers would have been able to stop the cars should that ever have been necessary.  The troopers then stayed with the drinkers until their blood alcohol level was below .02 percent and then the troopers drove the drinkers home.

The specially equipped vehicles were provided by 911 Driving School and the Swerve Driving School.

“We could not have learned what we did today without the safety margin added by these specially equipped cars,” Porter said. “For small businesses to support this project through the use of their cars shows their commitment to highway safety.”

Video of the event will be provided to policy-makers as they contemplate new rules and laws about impaired driving and ignition interlock. Training videos will also be created to help local police officers better recognize the driving traits of those who are dangerously impaired but still below the .08 percent level.