Ms Velma Burns:

Absolutely. The research on alcohol and driving is extensive and consistent. A huge number of studies have been conducted in the USA, which is the most authoritative source of such studies. Much of the research we have quoted on crash risk comes from the US studies. An analysis of 117 studies shows that they are all very consistent in their findings. They show that any amount of alcohol impairs driving, including levels below the current legal limit of 50 mg. The research shows that one's likelihood of having a crash doubles at 40 mg and that one is five or six times more likely to crash with a blood-alcohol level of 80 mg. Interestingly, much of the research shows that young drivers are much more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol, which is a very relevant finding given that young drivers are the highest risk group for fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. Because they have that lack of experience, studies show they are much more vulnerable to collisions when they consume alcohol. In many cases, the error made may be a small one. However, a small error can have devastating consequences as I have seen in the individual files and cases I have looked at. It can be a split second lack of concentration which leads one to deviate from one's lane or to lose control on a bend. Whereas it might be something one could rectify if one were not under the influence of alcohol, when one is, even at the lower levels, one's judgment is impaired. We all know that and Ms Murdock set out some examples to which we can all relate.

Impairment is much more devastating when one is behind the wheel. Driving is a very complex task and one's judgment is impaired when one consumes alcohol as is one's ability to maintain one's lane and to choose the appropriate speed. The research has also shown that one is more likely to take risks. Our study shows that half of the drivers who had consumed alcohol and were involved in fatal collisions chose not to wear a seat belt. That is a much higher incidence than we have seen in our observational studies or the other studies we have conducted. Alcohol has a huge impact. To give members a sense of how we know that, many of the studies that prove it have been done in simulators. Those who saw the "Prime Time" programme recently may remember the subject being asked to drive in a driving simulator having consumed a certain amount of alcohol. A subject's reading is measured and his or her performance is monitored and measured according to key actions like maintaining lane position, choosing the appropriate speed for the road, negotiating bends and other driving tasks. It is scientific.