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Progress and structure of motor vehicle accident frequency in the region of Prachatice caused by alcohol abuse
VEBER, Luděk
The thesis focuses on the rate of road accidents resulting from alcohol abuse in the district of Prachatice in the period from 1996 to 2006. The objective of the thesis is to analyse available police statistical data of the Police Presidium of the Czech Republic, as well as the South Bohemian Regional Police Directorate, the Regional Department for External Service, and the Road Traffic Inspectorate in Prachatice. The initial part of the thesis defines the characteristics of alcohol, its metabolism in the human body and its subsequent degradation and elimination. Furthermore, it provides a description of alcohol dependence and the impacts on health arising from excessive alcohol consumption. When driving a motor or non-motor vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages, the driver commits an unlawful action. The thesis reviews current legislation associated with driving vehicles under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Based on processed statistical data, an analysis of the development of the rate of road accidents caused by alcohol abuse in the period 1996 {--} 2006 was made, as well as an analysis of the structure of road accidents resulting from alcohol abuse in the same period according to the age of the offenders, accident types, and criminal prosecution. The ascertained statistical data served as a basis for diagrams and tables used for further comparison. In total, the thesis contains 22 diagrams and the same number of tables. Whereas the statistical data gathered in this manner were deployed as basic data for an analysis of the road accident rate in the district of Prachatice in the period from 1996 to 2006. One of the main issues examined by the thesis is the unsatisfactory and the socially dangerous conduct of motor vehicle drivers who drive their vehicles under the influence of alcoholic beverage and thereby, pose an imminent threat to the lives and health of other road traffic participants.
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Drugs and activities that could cause danger to life, health or damage to property
HANDSCHUHOVÁ, Silvie
The objective of this thesis is to summarize the effects of drugs, especially of the cannabinoids and amphetamine type stimulants, and to analyse which of these substances leads to high-risk activities, that could endanger life, health or result in damage to property. One of these activities, an important one, is driving under the influence of drugs. Driving itself is a complex demand, involving perception, decision making, psychomotor skills, knowledge, as well as attitudes and personality characteristics. Substance use and abuse has an impact on the functioning of the brain and mental processes and therefore on the performance of the driving task. Driving under the influence of drugs is a high risk activity which endangers not only the driver but also their surroundings. In the last few years, the Czech Republic registered a rapid increase in the number of impaired drivers, namely at police check points and in car accidents. The young drivers are mostly under influence of marijuana, respectively tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Its negative effect on driving results from impaired co-ordination, slowed complex reaction time and in space and time distortion. The second group of drugs which can impair drivers is amphetamine type stimulants. Amphetamines are frequently sought by truck drivers, especially long-haul drivers, in Western Europe for its stimulative effects. In the Czech Republic the methamphetamine, Pervitin, is much more common. Intoxication is characterized by increased wakefulness, increased physical activity, increased respiration, rapid heart rate and an irregular heartbeat. The risk factors for driving are a lack of concentration and an overestimation of one{\crq}s own capabilities. After the acute phase of intoxication subsides, fatigue or states of narcolepsy may occur. Another amphetamine-based drug is methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA or Ecstasy. This synthetic substance, chemically related to mescaline, is dangerous due to its ability to regulate body temperature. On rare but unpredictable occasions, this can lead to sharp hyperthermia, resulting in liver, kidney and cardiovascular system failure, and death. It can also cause hallucinations. All common drugs are easily detectable with ``drug test-cards{\crqq}, which are used during police checks around the the world. The Czech Republic is currently testing their utilization and is preparing legislation accordingly. Utilization of these tests during random checks could help to decrease the number of fatal road accidents and could help to decrease the number of impaired drivers on the roads.
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