For the second time in succession, the Regional Organization for Traffic Safety conducted an alcohol campaign in the Dutch province of North Brabant, at the end of 1990 and the beginning of 1991. The campaign, which lasted for two and a half months, consisted of an intensive police surveillance combined with publicity and a reward action. During the campaign more than 64,000 car drivers were tested for alcohol use. In the period before and after the campaign, respectively 1005 and 1288 arbitrary car drivers were tested for alcohol use during week-end nights. Blood alcohol content, age and sex of the drivers were collected and recorded. On the basis of these data collected by the police, the SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research investigated the effects of the campaign on alcohol use by car drivers in the province of North Brabant. The most important results of the study were: (1) After the end of the campaign, alcohol use by car drivers in the province of North Brabant appeared to been have stabilized at a relatively low level, compared with the before situation; (2) In comparison with previous measurements, no further decrease was found in alcohol use by car drivers; (3) Male drivers between 25 and 50 years of age were found to be the most problematic age group; (4) Alcohol use increased strongly, particularly later on in the night-time; and (5) On Friday night the number of offenders were twice as much as on Saturday night.
Samenvatting