Citation

Holubowycz OT, Kloeden CN, McLean AJ. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1993; 1993: 933-938.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

This paper examines the attitudes and drink-driving behaviour reported by male drivers of cars, vans and motorcycles, involved in crashes, who reported consuming alcohol during the month they were taken to a major trauma hospital in South Australia. Its tables present data for four blood alcohol concentration (BAC) groups: (1) zero BAC; (2) BAC less than 80mg/100ml; (3) BAC 80 to 150mg/100ml; (4) BAC at least 150mg/100ml. Statistical analyses are confined to a comparison between drivers with zero BAC and those with at least 80mg/100ml BAC on presentation to the hospital. In general, the drivers with high BACs drank and drove more often, and were also less likely to believe that alcohol impaired their driving skills. There was little evidence in this sample to support the deterrent value of licence-suspension resulting from drink-driving. For each of three different measures of exposure to random breath testing, there was little or no correlation between previous exposure and BAC level at the time of the accident. Most drivers in each BAC group believed that there should be more arrest for impaired driving, but reported acceptance of drink-driving at a personal level differed between groups.