Investigations at roadblocks have shown that the frequency of drinking drivers with blood alcohol level over the legal limit is very low in Sweden (about 0.12 per cent). Analysing the drinking habits of those drivers we found that over 50 per cent are high consumers. Comparing the results in fatalities in the same area in single traffic accidents with 46 per cent over legal limit we found that in this group of drivers the high consumers of alcoholic beverages are also overrepresented. By systematic roadside surveys it would be possible to identify the high consumers. The repressive police action could be transformed into a preventive social action with the aim not only to punish the drinking driver but through information, driver but through information, education and rehabilitation to prevent him from drinking and driving.
Samenvatting