This is the fourth calendar year report on random breath testing (RBT) and covers police operations, publicity, and the effectiveness of RBT in reducing alcohol involvement in accidents in 1988. RBT was doubled in April 1987, with the aim of testing an average of one in three licensed drivers each year. This aim was achieved (299,651 drivers tested), although variations in testing and detection rates according to region and type of police operation are worth following up. The intense publicity given to increase RBT in 1987 was not sustained in 1988. Alcohol involvement in casualty accidents was examined, using blood test results for drivers injured in accidents. Alcohol involvement was defined as the involvement of at least on driver with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08 g/100 ml. Data were only available for 1987 and 1988 and showed little change. However, breakdowns by month, region and severity showed that there was an initial effect of increased RBT in 1987 which wore off to some extent in 1988. The effect persists in at least some areas. (A)
Abstract