Neue Auflage der Beurteilungskriterien zur Fahreignungsbegutachtung

At the end of 2022, the German Society for Traffic Medicine (DGVM) and the German Society for Traffic Psychology (DGVP) published the 4th edition of the assessment criteria for forming judgments in driving fitness assessments. TÜV NORD presents the new assessment principles valid since July 1, 2023.

If drivers are found to have committed serious or repeated traffic violations, the road traffic authority usually orders a medical-psychological examination (MPU). This examines whether the driver can no longer be expected to be a danger to road traffic in the future. TÜV NORD has been active for many decades as a trusted partner in the field of MPUs at over 50 locations throughout Germany and supports drivers in regaining their driving license.

The 4th edition now presented retains the familiar division into hypotheses and criteria in the areas mentioned and also introduces new hypotheses for long-term medication and drug abuse. Another important addition in this edition is the inclusion of PEth (phosphatidylethanol) as an additional marker for the detection of chronic alcohol consumption. PEth, similar to the already established EtG (ethyl glucuronide), allows conclusions to be drawn about consumption behavior due to its half-life of four to ten days. The determination of PEth only requires a small amount of blood, which can be taken from the fingertip or earlobe.

Until now, PEth has already been used to examine elevated liver values as part of medical-psychological examinations if a hair analysis was not possible. With the new edition of the assessment criteria, it is now also possible to use PEth as part of alcohol abstinence control programs. This gives customers the opportunity to use PEth as a third alternative to confirm alcohol abstinence or moderate alcohol consumption if they do not wish to provide a hair sample or find a urine test under supervision uncomfortable.

Clients can find out about this alternative via TÜV NORD's online portal “meinMPI”. The company also offers information and support for PEth examinations and alcohol abstinence control programs through its examination centers throughout Germany.

“The new edition of the assessment criteria creates significantly more clarity at many levels of driving fitness assessments and offers our assessors a transparent guide for their examinations,” says Svenja Schroerschwarz, Head of the Medical-Psychological Institute at TÜV NORD, emphasizing the benefits.

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