This paper is based mainly on the data of the Federal Statistic Office and on the results of a comprehensive research project undertaken by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt). The first part describes the important role of alcohol in the causation of road traffic accidents, especially among young drivers. Road accident trends and alcohol involvement from 1980 to 1984 are discussed, and the accident risk of driving while intoxicated is described, especially the high risk in the 18- 21 age group of car drivers, with about 49 drunken drivers involved in accidents per one million hours of road use. The second part describes the results of a research project focused on the circumstances associated with the drinking and driving behaviour of `normal' drivers. There are no differences between younger or older drivers: the decision on drinking and driving appears to be determined by factors such as attitudes towards violating the legal alcohol limit, the individual driver's assessment of the risks involved in drunken driving, and attitudes towards excessive drinking in general. Young drivers drink alcohol less frequently and the BAC levels of young drivers who are involved in accidents while intoxicated are lower than those of older drivers. The high risk of young drivers' involvement in alcohol accidents appears to be due to less experience in drinking and in driving, general risk behaviour, and factors relating to the group behaviour of young people.
Samenvatting