Virginia Highway Safety Commission recommendations to the 1972 General Assembly

212893453PDFTech ReportVHRC 71-R10Drunk drivingTraffic accidentsVirginiaVirginia Transportation Research CouncilMicas, Steven LVirginia Highway Research CouncilVirginia. Highway Safety DivisionUS Transportation CollectionIn 1970, alcohol contributed to the deaths of over 340 drivers on the Commonwealth of Virginia's roads and a total of 19,000 crashes. Until 1972, Virginia retained the 0.15% presumptive level of intoxication. Advantages of the 0.10% presumptive level included increased deterrence and greater concurrence with medical knowledge as to when a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle was significantly decreased. To increase identifiability of the drinking driver, the use of quantitative breath tests for evidence of intoxication was advocated