How to design and implement a drinking and driving programme pdf ...

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during high-risk alcohol times or days of the week (see Module 2);
at collision zones or high-risk areas;
breath testing all drivers intercepted by police regardless of the reason for interception,
if legislation permits random breath testing;
breath testing all drivers involved in collisions;
breath testing individual drivers who are known to continue to drink and drive
after initial detection (i.e. repeat drink-drivers). As a principal enforcement measure,
covert operations should support the major operational strategies but never
take precedence. The main focus must be on high visibility enforcement for the
whole of the driving population.
BOX 3.6: Random breath testing in Australia and Finland
Australia
In Victoria, the use of special-purpose “booze
buses” – clearly identified as random alcoholscreening
vehicles and immediately recognisable by
the public – have been highly successful in reducing
drinking and driving over the past 15 years. These
vehicles possess all the necessary equipment to
operate as a mobile police station for the efficient
processing of offending drivers. The enforcement
process is complemented by a highly professional
and intense public advertising campaign using television,
radio, print media and billboards.
Finland
Drinking and Driving: a road safety manual
Since random breath testing was introduced in
Finland in 1977 the rate of drinking and driving
has been reduced by 50%, and there were notable
reductions in deaths and injuries from crashes
associated with drinking. Researchers found that
problem drinkers are more likely to be driving in
morning traffic, when vulnerable road users such
as children are using the road network, and are
more likely to be detected by random breath testing
than by other police activities (12). Random breath
testing was judged to be a popular measure with
the public and a measure that paid for itself through
savings in health care and other resources.
3 | How to design and implement a drinking and driving programme
Alcohol screening checkpoints
The use of alcohol screening checkpoints, also referred to as sobriety checkpoints
or roadblocks, is an effective way of detecting and apprehending those who drink
and drive. They allow a high profile, visible police presence, and provide an effective
deterrent to other motorists who are not stopped. Checkpoints are used to achieve
three main objectives:
1.
2.
3.
to ensure that the maximum number of drivers observe police enforcing drinkdriving
regulations;
to test drivers for alcohol consumption;
to process those offenders detected driving over the prescribed BAC limit.
Traffic police can maximize the effect of the checkpoints through (13):
• making them highly visible
▷ Deploy many police officers and police vehicles. To this end it is important to
have mobile units with the capacity to provide evidential testing and processing
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