Citation

Valverius MR, Moberg J, Linden C. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1982; 1982: 7-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

After the historical background to the roadside surveys a roadside survey in Northern Sweden is presented. From January 1976 to May 1979, 10,515 drivers have been investigated and tested by breath and blood/urine analysis. Only 13 drivers (0.12%) have had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit i.e. 0.5 percent. Adding it to the results in the whole country (1,021,313 drivers analysed by breath and blood tests) Sweden has the lowest frequency of drinking/driving in the world. The authors analysed various social and medical factors and concluded that the majority of the drinking drivers are abusers. The assumption that punishment shall stop those drivers from drinking and driving is not correct. The results of fatal traffic accidents in the same area are also evaluated. In single fatal accidents 47% of drivers have been under the influence in comparison with 7% of drunken drivers killed in collisions. Therefore it is recommended to specify the type of the accident when analysing the role of alcohol in traffic. It is concluded that by systematical roadside investigation it would be possible to find out the "driving-abusers". The repressive police action could be transformed into a preventive social action--not only to punish but through education, information and treatment to prevent negative results.