Random breath testing in South Australia: operation and effectiveness 1997

Abstract

The number of drivers tested at South Australian Random Breath Testing (RBT) stations in 1997 represented an increase of 91 per cent from the previous record year of 1996. This was coupled with greater emphasis on RBT operations in the early hours of the morning when drink driving rates are higher and the targeting of specific locations where higher rates of drink driving are expected. These changes in the extent and patterns of RBT operations resulted in the highest level of detection of drink drivers in all the years 1989-1 997. The effectiveness of RBT operations, however, is still restricted by having to be conducted only in the 'static' mode. The introduction of 'mobile' RBT would considerably increase the coverage of RBT operations in such a way that rural RBT would be greatly enhanced.