[Value, concept and efficacy of medical psychological examinations. Comments on the critique by A. Müller].

Abstract

The authors discuss the re-orientation regarding the withdrawal of driving licences, aptitude tests, re-training of drivers and therapy for DUI offenders as proposed by Müller in "Blutalkohol" in 1993. The authors note that Müller's analysis refers to an examination practice which is outdated and no longer compatible with the current development of examination and consultation techniques used by officially recognised medico-psychological examination centres in Germany. Methodological misunderstandings and miscalculations in Müller's analysis are pointed out. In contrast, a diagnostic strategy is presented aiming not only at improving traffic safety but also at optimising justice for each individual case. This also aims at giving advice to DUI offenders on how to improve their fitness for driving using appropriate measures. Special emphasis is put on procedures which enable DUI-offenders to use their time of suspension to genuinely improve their driving fitness with the help of diagnostic and advisory bodies in the medico-psychological examination centres.