The use of alcohol and medication reported by weekend, night-time drivers surveyed at random by police in Victoria and Northern Ireland, is described. In Melbourne, 5.3% of these drivers has used alcohol, 8.4% had used medication and 12.7% had used alcohol and medication or both. These figures were 2.1%, 2.6% and 3.7% respectively for drivers in rural Victoria. In Belfast, they were 1.5%, 5.5% and 6.6% respectively. Differences between Melbourne and Belfast in the frequency of alcohol of medication use by drivers were generally consistent with differences in published data relating to use of alcohol and medication in the 2 communities.
Abstract