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Drunken driving is one of the major causes of road accidents in Israel. And the police have made a priority of enforcing the law on drunken drivers. One of our Israeli reporters accompanied a police patrol car on its night shift to bring you this report.
During the hours we were accompanying a police team, we were given the opportunity to observe the police at work, including a pre-shift briefing and going out on to the streets.
That weekend the police arrested dozens of drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. Consuming alcohol compromises the driver's cognitive abilities and impairs his functioning. His vision becomes blurred, he might see a double picture, and his reaction time slows down.
For example, when a sober driver hits the breaks on time, his car will stop 2 meters ahead of the event, but a drunken driver would stop 2 meters past the point of danger. We talked to a police superintendent about the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The drivers checked by the policemen were tested with the help of instruments bearing the names "owl" and "scanner." When the quantity of alcohol exceeded 290 micrograms per 1 liter of air blown out of the driver's lungs, he was banned from driving and his license was taken away right on the spot. Not only that, his vehicle was impounded for a period of 30 days right then and there. And the driver would be issued a report ordering them to appear before a judge. But not all drivers are potential perpetrators. We also came across one who revealed a great measure of responsibility by turning himself in to the police of his own accord, asking to be tested for alcohol
Reporter:Lee Rom Photographer:Michael Ash
NTD News, Israel
