Enforcement: the only efficient way to tackle road fatalities in South America

It is beyond discussion that alcohol and drugs are a serious risk for drivers. In South America, where the fatality road rate is 22.1 per 100 thousand inhabitants, official reports indicate that 1 in 4 deaths prove to have at least one of the drivers involved under the influence of alcohol. Despite these dramatic data, criminal codes have a similar treatment for the problem: as traffic crimes are not a specific category, all these events are considered manslaughter, and the punishment rarely includes imprisonment. Impunity is the rule. At the same time, enforcement of drink driving is poor, uneven and inconsistent, and depends on the political will and commitment of local authorities. However, there are three examples of good practices that allow us to think that a change is possible: the experiences of Brazil, Chile and the city of Buenos Aires. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that strong and consistent alcohol and drugs enforcement leads to the reduction of road deaths, from the analysis of the experience of the cities of Buenos Aires (Argentina), and the first results of the “zero tolerance” programmes in Brazil and Chile.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.icadtsinternational.com/documents/?category=20th_T2013_Brisbane
• Authors:
  • Carignano, P M
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (T2013), 20th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 17-21
• Monograph Title: 20th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety Conference Proceedings, 25-28 August 2013, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drivers; Drunk driving; Intoxication; Law enforcement; Offenders; Penalties; Policy
• Geographic Terms: South America
• ATRI Terms: Drink driving; Law enforcement; Offender; Penalty; Policy
• ITRD Terms: 1534: Enforcement (law); 1502: Penalty
• Subject Areas: Policy; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01495633
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 17 2013 10:10AM