Random breath testing (RBT) in Tasmania. An address by the Tasmanian Director of Road Safety presented at the First Road Safety Program Initiatives Conference, Melbourne, May 1986.

In Tasmania the reduction of the legally permissible blood alcohol level (BAL) for drivers and riders to 0.5 and the simultaneous introduction of RBT occurred on January 1983. Initially Traffic Control of the Tasmanian Police was equipped with three Model 900 Breathalysers and 50 Drager Alcotest 7310 electronic breath test screeners. Since then three mobile breath analysis units so called `booze buses' have been provided as well as an additional 30 screeners. The latter have been distributed to district police headquarters as part of the long term objective of ensuring that all stations have ready access to them. RBT patrols are free to operate in any area and choice of locations is determined by duty supervisors.