Between September and December 1994, the SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research and 67 police control teams, conducted a roadside survey. The aim was to establish the motorists' alcohol consumption in all twelve Dutch provinces. The study was carried out on Friday and Saturday nights. The study represents a continuation of the nationwide studies into drink-driving habits which were carried out between 1970 and 1993. The 1994 sample includes 16,326 motorists. The 1994 study showed that the number of motorists with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit of 0.5 promille had increased: 4.9% in 1994 versus 4.2% in 1993. This increase was totally due to male drivers. The highest percentages of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) were found: (1) amongst 35-49 year-old male drivers; (2) in the province of North Holland; (3) in municipalities with 50,000-100,000 inhabitants; and (4) during Friday nights. Of the group of heavy drinkers (with a BAC over 1.3 promille), 60% stated that they had come from a public drinking place. The study recommends the formation of `flying alcohol squads' in all 25 Dutch police regions in order to end the unfavourable development of drink driving. The study also investigates whether the DUI increase in 1994 is reflected by the registered accident data.
Samenvatting