A number of recent studies in Victoria have evaluated countermeasures and other factors which appear to be responsible for the substantial reduction in road trauma since 1989. These include: (a) increased random breath testing, supported by mass media publicity, (b) new speed cameras, supported by mass media publicity, (c) bicycle helmet wearing law, (d) lowering of 110 km/h freeway speed limit, (e) improvements to the road system through treatment of accident black spots, (f) reduced economic activity, and (g) reduced alcohol sales. A need was identified to combine these results into a single model which could explain the overall reduction. This paper described preliminary results from a study which aims to develop an understanding of how the various factors/countermeasures have interacted to produce this reduction. Models developed in the evaluation of the first two countermeasures were consolidated to estimate the effects on serious casualty crashes during each of the years 1990-1992. The contributions of increased random breath tests, speed camera tickets issued, levels of road safety television publicity, unemployment rates and alcohol sales were estimated. (Author/Publisher)
Abstract