All safeguards will be implemented by our data collectors to avoid confrontation (for their own safety) and to ensure that the bar patrons are not delayed or injured in any way.
For the bar patron assessment, interviewers are trained in observing the signs and coding patrons for levels of intoxication. Heavily intoxicated participants may attempt to drive their cars home. They potentially could be setting themselves up for a DUI (that might involve harming themselves, other motorists or pedestrians) or for injury. Staff understands that it is their duty to encourage participant drivers to seek a safe means of getting to their next destination (usually that means home) if they satisfy the “unfit driver” criteria:
Establishing fitness to complete assessment and/or operate a motor vehicle.
To establish if a subject is fit to complete the bar patron survey, as well as safely operate a motor vehicle upon exit (if he/she is a planned driver), a three-level rating system has been established.
Level 1 indicates that there was no evidence of substance (alcohol or drugs) use.
Level 2 indicates that there is some evidence of use (e.g., the interviewer can smell alcohol) but the respondent displays no signs of intoxicated behavior such as slurred speech or bloodshot eyes.
Level 3 is evidence of use and signs of intoxication. At Level 3, the interviewer will decide whether the interview should proceed and whether the subject needs assistance. We will not continue the survey on obviously inebriated and severely impaired individuals. We will offer safe transportation alternatives to the next destination for individuals who show obvious signs of Level 3 impairment.
You will enter your assessment level rating (1, 2, or 3) after question number 3 of the Entry Survey and after questions number 2 of the Exit Survey. There will be cases where the subject will show signs of impairment, but is fit to complete the survey. The criteria for participation are that subject is able to understand the informed consent and able to provide informed consent. The criteria for consent to be informed are that the subject can understand the nature of the study as explained to him/her, that he/she understands the risks and benefits of participation, and that he/she understands that participation is voluntary. Simply being intoxicated does not preclude a person from being able to comprehend these basic concepts and process this information. Each interviewer will be responsible for determining whether a subject is fit to proceed with the interview. As soon as an interviewer identifies a subject as Level 3, implement the Impaired Driver Protocol (IDP).
To identify intoxicated subjects (Level 3), look for a clustering of the following signs and symptoms. No one sign or symptom is a direct indication of alcohol intoxication but, when combined, warrant the Interviewer conducting a more in-depth evaluation. Remember that alcohol affects each individual differently. The effect of alcohol on a person will vary according to the person’s height, weight, drinking history, mood, the time of day, amount of food in the stomach, the mixer used, how fast the person drinks, and what and why they are drinking. If a person displays a combination of the signs and symptoms of intoxication, you MUST implement the IDP.
A positive PAS reading
A strong scent of alcohol
Being overly friendly
Talking loudly, bragging, or using foul language
Being especially annoying or arguing with others
Inability to light cigarette, or attempting to light more than one cigarette at the same time
Slurred or slowed speech, or tending to lose the train of thought
Glassy eyes, dilated pupils, inability to focus, sleepy look, and bobbing head
Sudden or unexplained mood changes
Marked lack of coordination (e.g., inability to stand or walk, unable to hold a pen)
We are required by our IRB to ensure the safety of our subjects. Our goals include:
Identifying respondents who may be unable to provide informed consent because they are too intoxicated to understand the risks and benefits of participation and agree to be in the survey.
Identifying respondents who may be too impaired to operate a motor vehicle safely.
When you identify a Level 3 intoxicated person, implement the IDP. We have set procedures to assess and evaluate the subject, and also to get them safely to their next location.
If a subject is coded as a Level 3 respondent, the interviewer will summon the Site Supervisor over either by just motioning to him/her or by calling out “I need some data forms over here”, where the “d” in data is to clue the Site Supervisor of a Level 3 participant who plans to drive.
After the interviewer has successfully passed the participant on to the Site Supervisor to handle getting the participant home safely, the interviewer shall note in the last comments section of the interview that the Supervisor was called in to intervene with the participant for safety concerns.
The Site Supervisor then steps in and follows these steps:
The Site Supervisor introduces himself as the Site Supervisor.
The Site Supervisor then lets the participant know we are concerned for his/her safety and we believe they cannot safely get themselves to their next destination.
The Supervisor must not act like a police officer. The Supervisor should convey to them our desire to keep them safe.
The Supervisor will lead the participant to a more private spot to continue the intervention so that the interviewer can resume interviewing.
The Supervisor must be friendly yet firm in their position to encourage and possibly secure a safe way home.
We will offer safe transportation alternatives to the next destination for any individual who shows obvious signs of substantial impairment. When a Site Supervisor observes behavior, odor, and appearance that lead you to believe that a subject is moderately or heavily intoxicated and therefore a possible danger to him/herself, his/her passengers, other drivers, or pedestrians, please follow this procedure.
The Site Supervisor will be equipped a PBT with unmasked BAC numbers, and will request a breath test on the subject. If the BAC is .06 and above, the Site Supervisor will present these options to the subject:
LET A SOBER COMPANION DRIVE
If a sober companion with a valid driver’s license will be riding with the subject, the Site Supervisor can give that person a breath test. If the BAC is .05 or below and shows no signs of obvious intoxication, then the Site Supervisor will offer to let the passenger drive the subject home. The companion’s BAC must be recorded on the Site Report Form.
CALL A FRIEND OR RELATIVE OF THE DRIVER
The Site Supervisor can call a friend or relative of the subject and request that someone come and assist the driver (ideally, two persons should come so that one can drive the subject home and the other can drive the friend’s car home).
If neither of the above alternatives is satisfactory, then:
OFFER THE DRIVER A RIDE HOME FROM TAXI or TOWING SERVICES
If the driver does not have funds, then the project will pay for the ride. The subject’s vehicle can be left at the site, moved to a nearby parking area, or towed. When using a taxi or towing service, the Site Supervisor will get pre-paid receipts. If using a taxi service, the Site Supervisor will give the subject the car keys and the address noting where the vehicle will be located when the individual is capable of retrieving it. If a towing service is used, the subject can simply ride with the tow driver to their home.
OFFER WAITING OPTION
If the BAC is relatively low, the Site Supervisor may offer to re-test the subject’s BAC after some time has passed. When the BAC falls to .05 or below and the subject seems alert, the subject may drive themselves home.
OFFER TO PAY FOR A HOTEL
If the subject lives too far away for any of the above options, the Site Supervisor may arrange for the subject to stay in a nearby hotel and pay for a one night stay.
FINAL OPTION
If the driver refuses all options, the subject is told that we cannot in good conscience let him/her drive and that we will have to let the police officers know that in our judgment he/she is not fit to drive away. From vast past experience, this is usually sufficient to get the driver to cooperate and take one of the options. If the driver continues to refuse, it is only then when it is a matter of public safety that the police officers will be asked to assist. The officer will be asked to (1) repeat the safe ride options, and if that fails, (2) explain to the driver the advantages of the safe ride options and that officer will explain the possibility of arrest to the subject in a hope to convince them to take advantage of the safe ride option.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Katharine Brainard |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-31 |