The Attitude to Drunk Driving in Four Countries

A recent [i.e. year 2000] report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows the contrasts in enforcement and perceptions of enforcement in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. The report, authored by ICADTS member Allan Williams and colleagues, summarizes information from a telephone survey of more than 2,000 motorists in these countries. Results of the survey indicate that far more motorists in Australia and Canada report having been stopped and tested for alcohol than in The United Kingdom or the United States. In Australia, 82% of motorists reported having been stopped at some point and 47% reported having been stopped three or more times. In the Canada, 63% reported being stopped and 28% said they had been stopped at least three times. By contrast, equivalent figures for the US are 29% and 9% and in the UK 16% and 3%. Australia has an extensive random breath test program. In both the US and Canada, law enforcement officers must have a reason, such as erratic driving, to check a driver for alcohol. In the UK, neither random breath tests nor sobriety checkpoints are conducted but every driver stopped for a traffic violation or involved in a collision is tested for alcohol. The survey results also indicated public support of vigorous enforcement of tough laws in all four countries. For a copy of the full report Self-reported drinking and driving practices and attitudes in four countries and perceptions of enforcement, write: Publications, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22201 USA.

(Source: The Newsletter of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety [ICADTS] Vol. 11, No. 3; Summer 2000)

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