Indigenous drink driving and licensing: understanding the big picture and strategies for change in Western Australia.

The over-representation of aboriginal people in drink-driving statistics is concerning. indigenous Western Australians are about three times more likely than non-aboriginal people to be arrested for drink driving and over 25 times more likely to be imprisoned for driving under the influence (DUI) offences. In addition, aboriginal people are three times more likely to be injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes (and up to 17 times in very remote areas) and the road trauma costs are, on a per capita basis, about three times as much as for non-Aboriginal people. Responding to this difficult problem is a challenge. Aboriginal people in regional and remote areas continue to experience a high degree of social, cultural, economic and cultural disadvantage and face a range of difficulties in participating in a number of systems, including licensing and drink driving programs. Such initiatives have, in the main, been developed for mainstream urban populations. The development of the strategy acknowledges the importance of creating ways to respond to the specific dynamics of contemporary Aboriginal communities, so as to reflect the cultural complexities and rather than using generalist models. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E216298.

  • Authors:
    • OLNEY, K
  • Publication Date: 2007-11

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01099979
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: TRL
  • Files: ITRD, ATRI
  • Created Date: May 27 2008 9:09AM