|
Paper Title:
A Review of the Random
Breath Testing Program in Western Australia
View
full paper
Authors:
Delia Hendrie, Carol
Kirov
Abstract:
The aim of this study
was to review the random breath testing (RBT) program in Western
Australia over the period from 1992/93 to 1999/00. The RBT program
includes three components - enforcement, public education to support
the enforcement, and legislation. Several data sources were used
in the review, including RBT enforcement data, community surveys
relating to RBT and drink-driving, mass media activity data and
road crash data. The analysis was based primarily on descriptive
statistics with statistical tests of significance conducted where
applicable. The review found that the WA Police Service had implemented
several initiatives to improve the process of carrying out RBT,
but further actions could be undertaken such as to conduct more
random breath testing at times when the level of drink-driving is
known to be higher. The number of breath tests per capita is relatively
high in WA compared with other Australian states, and has increased
to approximately the equivalent of one in two people breath tested
per year. However, the relative share of alcohol-related fatal and
serious injury crashes has increased in both the metropolitan and
country areas. The focus of improvement of the program should be
on implementing best-practice RBT to ensure the greatest possible
impact on road safety outcomes. Levels of public education have
been lower in recent years and should not be decreased further otherwise
its role in the RBT program may be compromised.
View
full paper
Back
to Program
|
