Prior to the introduction of random breath testing (RBT) in Western Australia, a random stopping program was in operation. In this study, the effectiveness of random stopping as a deterrent was investigated, using the causal model suggested by Homel (1986). Five hundred Western Australian drivers were questioned in a community survey about their behaviour, attitudes and opinions relating to drink-driving. The data were analysed using the full LISREL7 model and the weighted least squares method of parameter estimation for ordinal variables. The authors found little similarity between the final structural model and Homel's model, which suggests that random stopping was not an effective deterrent. The finding is supported by accident statistics which show that Western Australia had a more severe drink-driving problem than states with more effective deterrent measures, such as RBT.
Abstract