Alcohol in New Zealand road trauma.
Alcohol-impaired driving is one of the major contributing factors to fatal and serious crashes in New Zealand. To curb the high level of road trauma resulting from drink-driving, a compulsory breath test (CBT) programme was introduced in 1993 and a supplementary road safety package (SRSP) in 1995/1996. The SRSP aimed to enhance road safety enforcement and advertising activities, and focused primarily on drink-driving and speeding. These interventions have resulted in a substantial reduction in alcohol-related road trauma. Subsequently, in 1999, the drinking age was lowered from 20 to 18 years. This paper examines the impacts of these drink-driving interventions. The analysis shows that the CBT programme and the SRSP have contributed to the reduction in alcohol-related crashes in recent years. There is also some evidence that, following the lowering of the drinking age, there has been an increase in drink-driving and subsequent alcohol-related crash involvement for drivers under 18 years.
Guria
Jagadish
J
Land Transport Safety Authority, Wellington, New Zealand. jagadish.guria@ltsa.govt.nz
Jones
Wayne
W
Leung
Joanne
J
Mara
Kelly
K
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001944:Breath Tests; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015397:Program Evaluation