| Technical Report Documentation Page |
1. Report No.
DOT
HS 809 756 |
2.
Government Accession No. |
3.
Recipient’s Catalog No. |
4. Title and Subtitle
State Laws and Practices
for BAC Testing and Reporting Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes |
5. Report Date
March 2004 |
6.
Performing Organization Code |
7. Author(s)
James H. Hedlund, Robert G. Ulmer and Veronika Shabanova Northrup |
8.
Performing Organization Report No. |
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Preusser Research
Group, Inc.
7100 Main Street Trumbull, CT 06611 |
10.
Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
|
11.
Contract or Grant No.
DTNH22-98-D-45079 |
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Department
of Transportation
National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Washington,
DC 20590 |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final
Report
May 2002- October 2003 |
14.
Sponsoring Agency Code |
15.
Supplementary Notes
Valerie
Gompf and Dale Doucet served as the NHTSA Contracting Officer’s
Technical Representatives for this study |
16. Abstract
This report presents
the results of a study of alcohol testing and reporting methods
and rates for drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes.
In 2002, NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System
(FARS) annual report data file recorded BACs for 65 percent
of fatally injured drivers, 25 percent of surviving drivers,
and 43 percent of all drivers in fatal crashes. The study’s
goals were to identify the best practices for, and the barriers
and problems that hinder, obtaining BAC data for drivers
involved in fatal traffic crashes. The study reviewed each
State’s laws affecting BAC testing, recent testing
rates, and other information on each State’s practices
and results. With the advice of a steering committee representing
the organizations and disciplines involved in BAC testing
and reporting, ten diverse States were chosen for detailed
examination. This report identifies the best practices currently
in use and the major barriers to increasing testing. It concludes
with suggestions for implementing these best practices in
States that wish to improve their BAC testing and reporting
rates. |
17. Key Words
Fatal
crashes; alcohol testing; best practices, BAC, impaired
driving
|
18. Distribution Statement
Document
is available to the public through the
National
Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161 |
19. Security Classif. (Of this report)
Unclassified |
20. Security Classif. (Of this page)
Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages
51 |
22.
Price |
| Form
DOT F 1700.7 (8-72 Reproduction
of completed
page authorized |
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