In 1991, 166 drinking drivers with blood alcohol levels in excess of the legal limit (80 mg per lOO ml) were involved in fatal road accidents in New Zealand. Ninety-three percent of these had either blood alcohol levels over 150 mg per 100 ml, were in the age group of 18-28, had a prior conviction for drink driving, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified or violence, or were currently disqualified at the time of the fatal accident. The characteristics of this hard core group will be examined and compared with those of sober drivers in fatal accidents. Those of the drinking drivers with a prior conviction for drink driving will be compared with the drinking drivers who did not have such a prior conviction. not have such a prior conviction. The former are older, more likely to be males, to be unemployed, to have convictions for dangerous driving, careless driving, driving while disqualified or violence, or involvement in prior reported injury accidents. The incident of recidivism will be compared with drivers in injury accidents and with drivers apprehended by the police. The impact of compulsory breath testing on the hard core group will be discussed. (A)
Abstract