Alcohol limit for drivers high
EVEN with the new traffic regulations, a person drunk enough to cause accidents on the road might pass the test, an expert has said.
By Raphael Okello
EVEN with the new traffic regulations, a person drunk enough to cause accidents on the road might pass the test, an expert has said.
According to Uganda’s new traffic regulation, people are not supposed to drive when the amount of alcohol in their blood exceeds 80mg per 100ml. This is equivalent to taking about five bottles of beer, said Dr. David Basangwa, a drug and alcohol expert at Butabika Mental Referral Hospital.
The Police are using breath analysers to detect alcohol levels in the blood of drivers. If it reads 80mg per 100ml of blood or above, the driver will be punished.
However, Basangwa says this level is too high. He says studies have shown that at 80mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, a driver can still lose visibility, perception and may not make quick and timely judgement.
“So far the legal limit is not good enough,†he says. “Most countries use this (80mg per 100ml) ... but studies show that even at 80mg, a driver can still get an accident due to alcohol effects.â€
He explains since alcohol is an intoxicant, any amount in blood causes a degree of brain sedation, which will affect normal body functions.
“Even one bottle can cause a problem yet drivers need full concentration when on the road. That is why some countries have reduced the level to 50mg per 100ml (three bottles) and others totally to zero levels,†Basangwa says.
Dr. Margaret Mungherera, president of the Uganda medical Association, says authorities should have carried out research in the country before setting the limits.
“We can’t use studies done by European countries to set our standards because the absorption rate of alcohol may differ depending on where we are located, genetic differences, feeding among other factors,†she explains.
The alcohol level in blood can be detected by analysing breath because as blood circulates, the alcohol evaporates into the lung and is breathed out together with carbon dioxide.
Basangwa says alcohol affects a number of body functions such as judgment, concentration, vision and consequently ability to manipulate machinery. The scale of these effects increase with the amount of alcohol one consumes.
At four bottles, one gets excited and attempts to accelerate more and is likely to neglect safety precautions. While at five bottles, a driver may not be able to operate machinery due to loss of visibility and perception. As a result a driver may also fail to make quick and timely judgement.
Basangwa advises that if you exceed the legal limit, rest for at least six hours, drinking plenty of water during that time.
The legal limit notwithstanding, he advises that one should not drive after taking more than two bottles of beer.
“It normally takes six hours for 80mg to clear from the blood. But the time for the alcohol to clear increases as one takes more alcohol,†says Basangwa.
EVEN with the new traffic regulations, a person drunk enough to cause accidents on the road might pass the test, an expert has said.
According to Uganda’s new traffic regulation, people are not supposed to drive when the amount of alcohol in their blood exceeds 80mg per 100ml. This is equivalent to taking about five bottles of beer, said Dr. David Basangwa, a drug and alcohol expert at Butabika Mental Referral Hospital.
The Police are using breath analysers to detect alcohol levels in the blood of drivers. If it reads 80mg per 100ml of blood or above, the driver will be punished.
However, Basangwa says this level is too high. He says studies have shown that at 80mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, a driver can still lose visibility, perception and may not make quick and timely judgement.
“So far the legal limit is not good enough,†he says. “Most countries use this (80mg per 100ml) ... but studies show that even at 80mg, a driver can still get an accident due to alcohol effects.â€
He explains since alcohol is an intoxicant, any amount in blood causes a degree of brain sedation, which will affect normal body functions.
“Even one bottle can cause a problem yet drivers need full concentration when on the road. That is why some countries have reduced the level to 50mg per 100ml (three bottles) and others totally to zero levels,†Basangwa says.
Dr. Margaret Mungherera, president of the Uganda medical Association, says authorities should have carried out research in the country before setting the limits.
“We can’t use studies done by European countries to set our standards because the absorption rate of alcohol may differ depending on where we are located, genetic differences, feeding among other factors,†she explains.
The alcohol level in blood can be detected by analysing breath because as blood circulates, the alcohol evaporates into the lung and is breathed out together with carbon dioxide.
Basangwa says alcohol affects a number of body functions such as judgment, concentration, vision and consequently ability to manipulate machinery. The scale of these effects increase with the amount of alcohol one consumes.
At four bottles, one gets excited and attempts to accelerate more and is likely to neglect safety precautions. While at five bottles, a driver may not be able to operate machinery due to loss of visibility and perception. As a result a driver may also fail to make quick and timely judgement.
Basangwa advises that if you exceed the legal limit, rest for at least six hours, drinking plenty of water during that time.
The legal limit notwithstanding, he advises that one should not drive after taking more than two bottles of beer.
“It normally takes six hours for 80mg to clear from the blood. But the time for the alcohol to clear increases as one takes more alcohol,†says Basangwa.