For the third time in succession, the Regional Organization for Traffic Safety conducted an alcohol campaign in the Dutch province of North Brabant, at the end of 1991 and the beginning of 1992. The campaign, which lasted for three months, consisted of an intensive police surveillance combined with publicity and a reward action. In the period before and after the campaign, respectively 1363 and 1542 arbitrary car drivers were tested for alcohol use during week-end nights. Blood alcohol content, age and sex of the drivers were determined and recorded. On the basis of these data collected by the police, 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 are: (1) After the end of the campaign, alcohol use by car drivers in the province of North Brabant appears to be at a slightly lower level, compared with the before situation; (2) In comparison with previous measurements, a decreasing trend is found in alcohol use by car drivers; (3) Male drivers between 25 and 50 years of age are found to be the most problematic age group; (4) Alcohol use increases strongly, particularly later on in the night-time; and (5) In the "before" study, a greater number of offenders were found on Friday night than on Saturday night. However, no significant difference between the days was found in the "after" study.
Samenvatting