Alcohol
The community generally acknowledges that drink driving is socially unacceptable behaviour. Random breath testing (RBT) was introduced into Queensland in 1988. Since then considerable progress has been made in reducing the number of drink-driving related crashes by the use of RBT and publicity campaigns, but more work needs to be done through targeted initiatives at those most likely to offend – particularly on a repetitive basis.
The incidence of single-vehicle crashes, crashes after dark and crashes on weekends continues to be far higher for alcohol-related crashes than for all crashes. Alcohol was a contributing factor in approximately 29% of fatal crashes over the 2001–2003 period. While alcohol related fatalities decreased 19% from 1997 to 2002, the number of hospitalisation crashes increased by almost 70% during the same period.
During the period 1994-2000 in Queensland, the relative risk of dying as a result of an alcohol-related crash in rural areas was on average 4.2 times higher compared to urban areas.
Road safety agencies are also becoming increasingly concerned at the high number of intoxicated pedestrians being killed on Queensland roads each year.
