Citation

Bo O. J. Traffic Med. 1978; 6(1): 10-12.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1978, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Some facts from earlier and recent investigations of the prohibitive effect of Norwegian alcohol countermeasures in road traffic are briefly summarized. This information leaves us with a knowledge gap, because there are two divergent trends in the evidence so far obtained. On the one hand, there seems to be no doubt that, in general, the Norwegian anti-alcohol legislation has a deterrent effect: keeping the alcohol involvement of the non-accident driving population at a minimum level. On the other hand, the same legislation seems to have a very weak impact on drinking prior to driving among accident-involved drivers, and an alarming high frequency of alcohol involvement is found in accident series. This discrepancy is not easily accounted for, and the need for more thorough, widespread, and if possible, continous research is emphasized. So far, it seems justified to conclude that there still exists a serious alcohol problem in Norwegian road traffic. Some attacks on the Scandinavian legislative approach are mentioned, and it is admitted that genuine scientific evidence of the effectiveness of Scandinavian Drinking-driving legislation is still lacking. In conclusion, the problem area of ethanol influence on road traffic is not considered solved by any legislative or punitive measures alone, but rather in the author's opinion, depends on an adequate level of police enforcement and a constant adjustment based on scientific data.