Despite significant reductions in the level of drink-drive related trauma in recent years, drink driving remains a principal cause of serious crashes on Victoria's roads. Results from a number of recent studies have served to highlight the following: Drink-driver behavioural responses in country Victoria to varying levels of enforcement and supporting mass media; The link between enforcement modes and crash outcomes; The perceptions of enforcement levels and risks of detection among a sample of country hotel patrons; The role of informal communication networks (the bush telegraph) in mitigating the impact of enforcement and public education programs. The study results, taken together, have implications for drink-drive enforcement strategies and support public education in rural Victoria. Enforcement strategies and supporting public education in rural Victoria have been changing in recognition of these findings. Aggressive covert enforcement activities targeting licensed premises including hotels, social clubs and sporting clubs commenced in early 1997. Booze bus deployment in rural areas is now more likely to be supported by satellite cars patrolling back streets in the vicinity. In support, new communications are being developed to alert the intending drink-driver to the changed enforcement practices. (A)
Abstract