A survey of motor vehicle drivers and riders involved in accidents in the County of Nottinghamshire was carried out over a twelve month period in 1986/87. Results, including information derived from evidential breath tests are presented. Over the period of the survey 189 drivers/riders recorded a positive evidential breath test, of whom over one-third had a reading in excess of twice the legal limit. It was found that 95 per cent of drivers/riders over the legal limit were male, as against 78 per cent with a negative test result; one-third of those over the legal limit were aged 20-24. A half of the accidents to drivers over the limit occurred between 10pm and 1am, the proportion reaching 64 per cent between 10pm and 4am; two-thirds of these accidents occurred on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Overall, nearly three-quarters of drivers/riders were in socio-economic groups 3, 4, 5; relative to those passing the test, the incidence of drink/driving offences was greatest in SEG 5 and the unemployed. The results of voluntary roadside surveys carried out in the Spring of 1988 are also given. The fieldwork, which involved breath testing and interviewing, was carried out at 48 different sites in two English counties on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between the hours of 10pm and 3am. Response rates were good, and the study was generally well received by the drivers involved. Overall approximately two per cent of those tested were found to be over the legal limit, of whom about ten per cent were over twice the legal limit. (A)
Abstract