ALCOHOL IN ROAD ACCIDENTS IN VICTORIA 1977-1993

There is evidence that the number of serious road accidents in Victoria involving alcohol declined at three points in the period 1977-1993, and that this was due to changes in the patterns of drinking and drunk driving. A number of factors could have contributed to these changes. These factors are identified and described. Suggestions are made as to the measures that are likely to bring further gains in the 1990s. These measures include: (1) Measures to encourage safe driving or drinking practices (mass media use, driver education in schools, industry initiatives); (2) Measures to discourage unsafe drinking and drunk driving practices (general and specific deterrence); and (3) Measures affecting drinking and drunk driving, but which were not primarily introduced for that purpose (alcohol costs, alcohol availability, healthy lifestyles movement, changes in drinking environment).