The new traffic safety provisions explain when a police officer may require a driver to undergo a medical examination and outline the permitted blood alcohol concentration measured through breath analysis.
The law, effective from its start date, clarifies the circumstances under which a traffic police officer may request a driver to submit to a medical or sobriety assessment. It also establishes the legal threshold for alcohol detected in a breath sample collected through a straw or similar device. This threshold marks the point at which alcohol presence is considered confirmed for the purposes of the roadside check, and it is tied to the broader framework of impaired driving enforcement that aims to protect road users and maintain public safety.
The official statement specifies that alcohol consumption is confirmed when the presence of absolute ethyl alcohol in a concentration exceeds the measurement error, defined as 0.16 milligrams per liter of exhaled air. This precision is used to distinguish actual alcohol presence from minor fluctuations in measurement, ensuring that only clear evidence of impairment triggers enforcement actions.
Translating this breath measurement into blood alcohol content, the standard corresponds to approximately 0.35 parts per million (ppm) of alcohol in the blood for the average adult male weighing around 80 kilograms. In practical terms, this level is roughly equivalent to one standard serving of alcohol consumed about an hour before driving. For reference, this could be about 50 grams of vodka, 200 grams of dry wine, or 500 grams of beer, depending on the drink type and alcohol content. This conversion helps drivers understand how the breath and blood measurements relate to common beverages and typical consumption patterns.
Even in cases where the breath or blood test does not show alcohol, a traffic inspector may still have legitimate reasons to doubt a driver’s condition. In such scenarios, the officer retains the authority to direct the driver to undergo a medical examination to assess fitness to drive. This provision ensures that impairments caused by factors other than alcohol, such as fatigue, medications, or medical conditions, can still be evaluated if safety concerns arise during a roadside stop.
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Source: AIF