Between September and December 1997, the SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research and 73 police control teams, conducted a roadside survey. The aim was to establish the motorists' alcohol consumption in all twelve Dutch provinces. The study was carried out on Friday and Saturday nights. The study represents a continuation of the nationwide studies into drink-driving habits which were carried out between 1970 and 1996. The 1997 sample contained 22,614 motorists. The 1997 study showed that the number of motorists with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of 0.05% had stabilised, when compared with 1996. Of the motorists under the age of 25, having an illegal BAC, 69% stated they had come from a public drinking place. In 1997, the highest percentages of drink-driving were found: (1) Saturday and Sunday morning between 2 and 4 a.m.; (2) amongst 25-49 year-old male drivers; (3) in municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants; and (4) in the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, and North Brabant. The scope and development of alcohol-related accidents in the Netherlands is also described.
Abstract