DRIVING WITH DRUGS IN VICTORIA AND NORTHERN IRELAND

This report describes the use of alcohol and medication reported by weekend, night-time drivers surveyed at random by Police in Victoria, Australia and Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. In Melbourne 5.3% of these drivers had used alcohol, 8.4% had used medication and 12.7% had used alcohol and medication or both. These figures were 2.1%, 2.6% and 3.7% respectively for drivers in rural Victoria. In Belfast, they were 1.5%, 5.5% and 6.6% respectively. Differences between Melbourne and Belfast in the frequency of alcohol and medication use by drivers were generally consistent with differences in published data relating to use of alcohol and medication in the two communities. Prescription drug use was reported up to six times more frequently than use of over-the-counter preparations. The community and existing drug control agencies therefore need to co-operate with Road Safety organisations in developing new countermeasures against driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.

• Corporate Authors:

  VICTORIA POLICE

  ST KILDA ROAD
  MELBOURNE, VICTORIA  Australia  3004

  Department of Transport, Australia

  Office of Road Safety, P.O. Box 594
  Canberra, A.C.T. 2601,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Hendtlass, J
• Publication Date: 1983-7

Media Info

• Features: Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 99 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcoholic beverages; Communities; Countermeasures; Drivers; Drugs; Drunk driving; Medicine; Night; Public relations
• Uncontrolled Terms: Community support
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00387747
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: CR 28, HS-036 417
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 30 1984 12:00AM