Estimates of the effect - in terms of the expected reduction in the number of accidents - of a limitation of drivers' blood alcohol concentration, vary from 7% to 67%. depending on the severity of the accident, the chosen limit, the design of the study and the conditions considered. The preciseness of the evaluation of the effect of regulations aimed at changing drivers' drinking habits increases, the more knowledge is available about the intended effect on drinking habits and about circumstances which also do affect driving and drinking habits or the liability of (serious) accidents. If changing driving habits is determinated by availability of alternative transport (buses, trams, cheap night-time taxis at weekends), - which is a reasonable assumption- it will also hold that changes in drinking habits will be determined by the availability of alternative luxuries. Concerning the contribution of recidivism to the total number of non-sober - accident and non accident involved - drivers, differences in the probality of detection, especially as a function of blood alcohol concentration, has tot be accounted for. lf individual differences, including non-soberness, have less influence on (driving) performance than task variables - which is a research supported assumption - then changing driving conditions to reduce accident liability and injury risk, will give more benefits than those countermeasures which are specifically aimed at the driver. (Author/publisher)
Abstract