The author begins by sketching the dimensions of the problem and describing target behaviours for control. Next follows the delineation of roles for those players in position to affect separate aspects of the problem. Epidemiological findings suggest a focus on high blood alcohol, rather than marginally impaired drivers. Thus suggests appropriate roles for those who control the distribution and dispensing of alcoholic drinks. Age interaction with relative risk suggests directions for legal controls. The author then addresseds the role of the traffic safety establishment, which can be seen as having the duty to reduce road losses from all sources whether or not involving alcohol impairement. Proven safety measures are discussed, including vehicular factors, road, roadsides, and traffic routing and control. Other measures are labelled as 'reasonable but unproven'. These include nearly all measures focused on driver behaviours, including education, training, rehabilitation and legal coercion. Specific measures aimed at impaired drivers through the safety establishment are assessed, with emphasis on succesful random testing operations in New South Wales and Tasmania. The author attemps to sift out the essential ingredients for such massive deterrence. Finally, the author addressses what can be attempted by way of joint efforts between the traffic safety establishment and other agencies such as health and local body authorities. He suggests that community alcohol action projects seem to work best against a background of highly conspicuous enforcement of drinking driving laws, as suggested by recent Australian experiences.
Abstract