Crashes occurring on major and minor roads in areas of country Victoria influenced by random breath testing (RBT) activity during 1993-1994 were analysed, so that the effects of styles of RBT operations, and the interactions of these effects with the levels of publicity awareness, could be seen. The major findings suggest that at times of intense RBT enforcement and high publicity awareness in rural areas of Victoria, some drink-drivers changed their travel behaviour and used relatively unsafe minor roads. Under these circumstances statistically significant increases in high alcohol hour serious casualty crashes occurred on minor roads but not on major roads. These findings provide the basis for a decision to schedule RBT operations on minor roads as well as on major roads. (A)
Abstract