Alcohol Related
Harm on Irelands
Roads
Myths & Facts
Road is safety is about.......
Removing risk factors........
i.e. risk of being involved is a collision is attributable
to many factors..........
Inappropriate speed
Non wearing of restraints or helmet
Inferior road infrastructure
Badly maintained or designed vehicles
Impairment (drugs, alcohol, fatigue...etc)
Inexperience drivers
Vulnerable road users
And many others............
Risk factors are not exclusive...
Inappropriate
Inappropriate
speed
speed
Non wearing of
restraints or
helmet
And many
others............
Non wearing of
restraints or
helmet
Vulnerable road
users
Vulnerable road
users
Inferior road
infrastructure
Inexperience
drivers
Inferior road
infrastructure
Badly maintained
Inexperience
drivers
Impairment
Impairment
designed
Badlyorvehicles
maintained
or designed
vehicles
They are interlinked
Road Safety interventions are
classified as...................
Engineering
Education
Enforcement
Evaluation
And like the risk factors must be interlinked.
Ireland Road Safety Performance to date..................
Road Fatalities 1970 - 2009
700
650
1972
2008
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
18,601 people have died........
640
279
The National
Picture............
2008
The International
Situation..............
Ireland has performed well......
In 1999 Road deaths per million population = 124
2008 = 63 but.....
Netherland are at 44 and Sweden are at 43...
We need to be striving to reach these international benchmarks
Risk Factor........Alcohol
The literature on the effects of alcohol on driving is very
extensive and very consistent; alcohol in almost any
amount impairs driving or driving related skills.
In 1988 177 studies, and subsequently in 2000, 112
studies were reviewed in reports by NHTSA (National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration) in the USA.
The results of the reviews can be summarised by a
quotation from the 1988 report which stated “there is no
lower threshold below which impairment does not exist
for alcohol”. The combination and alcohol and driving is
a deadly mix.
How does alcohol effect driving
ability ?...............
divided
attention,
information.
tracking,
Of the eleven functions
required to drive, ten
are impaired at a BAC
level of 0.04g/dL.
simple
reaction time
psychomotor
skills,
cognitive
tasks,
perception
choice
reaction time,
vigilance,
visual
function,
Risk Factor........Alcohol
at what level?
In 1964 a study known as Grand Rapids established the link
between increased BAC level in driver and increased risk.
The study revealed the risk substantially increased above
0.04g/dL. This original study has been verified several times
and most recently in 2002
Risk Factor........Alcohol
at what level?
• Research in 2000 estimated that the risk of being involved in
a fatal collision for drivers at BACs as low as 0.02-0.04g/dL is
anywhere from two to five times higher than for drivers with
BACs = 0.00g/dl.
• The same study concluded that the risk of being killed as
driver in a single-vehicle collision is six to seventeen times
greater for drivers at BACs between 0.05 and 0.07g/dL than
at 0.00g/dL.
• Another study in 2002 concluded that the risk of being
involved in any type of collision for drivers with 0.04g/dL was
18% higher than for drivers at 0.00g/dL. At 0.05g./dL the risk
is 38% higher, at 0.06g/dL it is 63% higher and at 0.07g/dL it
is 109% higher than for drivers at BAC of 0.00g/dL.
Reducing BAC level........
•
•
•
•
•
Decreases level of impairment in drivers =
Reduces errors =
Reduces risk of collision involvement =
Reduces deaths and serious injuries =
Reduce cost to the state.
Will reducing BAC effect fatal traffic collisions..........
Alcohol in Fatal Road Crashes in Ireland In 2003 to 2005.
D Bedford, N McKeown, A O’Farrell, F Howell. Population Health
Directorate, Health Service Executive, 2008. Naas.
What happened in other countries which reduced BAC
to 0.05g/dL.......
12% reduction in
drink driving
Fatal crashes reduced
from 100 to 65 in one
year after change
(Haute-Savoie region)
9.4% decrease in
alcohol related
crashes
9.7% decrease fatal crashes
11% decrease in single
vehicle crashes
7% decrease in all crashes
What happened in other countries which reduced BAC
to 0.05g/dL.......
Queensland
8.2% decrease in
serious night-time
crashes
New South Wales
13% reduction in
fatal crashes
South Australia
145 reduction in
drunk drivers
Japan
Proportion of alcohol
related fatal crashes
fell from 15% to 11%
Arguments against reducing BAC
levels........
Claim : Will reduce employment in the licensed trade......
What happening after the last reduction in 1994....
Arguments against reducing BAC
levels........
Public houses will close.....
“We already have almost 12,000
licensed premises, resulting in a pub
for every 250 adults. This is close to
three times the UK pub density on a
per capita basis.
There are over
17,000 alcohol outlets in the state
already”.
Submission to Minister of Justice Equality and
Law Reform 2005
Are the Irish Public demanding a
reduced BAC ?....
Health Promotion Unit 2002 Survey (Department of Health and Children, 2004)
Over two thirds (67%) of adults, support the proposal to lower the drink drive limit to 0.5.
There is also support for a zero limit from two thirds of drivers. Similarly, 9 out of 10 drivers
support such a limit being imposed on new drivers.
Social Attitudes to Road Traffic Risk in Europe (SARTRE 3), 2003
The SARTRE 3 study (of 1,000 Irish Drivers) found that 91% of those interviewed
supported the idea that penalties for drink-driving should be much more severe
Hibernian Motoring Reports , 2007 & 2008
In a survey of 516 motorists 77% said the legal alcohol limit should be reduced (2007).
Is Ireland ready for a change in drink-driving legislation?;
Ray Fuller and Michael Gormley, School of Psychology, Trinity College, Dublin
About three out of every four drivers – an increasing majority – are in favour of the introduction
of a lower drink driving limit and two thirds now support a zero limit for all drivers.
Irish Times Online Poll, 2nd May 2008
56% agreed with the statement that the blood alcohol limit for driving should be reduced.
PARC Survey 2008
A survey of 3240 adults aged 15+ in 2008 found that 87% of respondents favoured a
reduction in the current limit of 80mg/100 ml.
Reducing BAC – we have been through it
before.......
Year
Act/Report
1961
Road Traffic Act
1963
Commission on “Driving while
under the Influence of Drink or a
Drug” – DAVITT COMMISSION
1968
Road Traffic Act
1978
Road Traffic (Amendment)Act
1994
Road Traffic Act
BAC level
None - Section 49 created an offence
of drink under the influence of an
intoxicant but impairment had to be
proved.
Recommended the establishment of a
BAC of 125 milligrams of alcohol per
100 millilitres of blood
Established a BAC of 125 milligrams of
alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood
Reduced the BAC to 100 milligrams of
alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood
Reduced the BAC to 80 milligrams of
alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood
We are out of step..........
BAC
Countries
Zero
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Hungary, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan,
Romania, Slovak Republic, (Uzbekistan) (10 countries)
0.01%
Albania
0.02%
Estonia*, Norway, Poland, (Sudan), Sweden (5)
0.03%
China, Georgia*, India, Japan, Moldova, Turkmenistan (6)
0.04%
Belarus, Lithuania* (2)
0.05%
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands,
Portugal*, Russia*, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain,
Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Yugoslavia Luxembourg, (36)
0.06%
Peru*
0.08%
Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Fiji, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica,
Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Puerto Rico,
Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, USA, Zimbabwe (20)
0.10%
Possibly Swaziland, but see 0.15%, below. [Many American states had this
limit but Delaware was the last to sign up for a 0.08% limit, in July 2004.]
0.15%
Swaziland* (1)
Northern
Ireland and
Scotland are
committed
to reducing
to 0.05g/dL
The Latest Evidence 2009.............
2009
Summary: There is strong evidence in the literature that lowering the BAC
limit from .10 to .08 is effective, that lowering the BAC limit from .08 to .05
is effective, and that lowering the BAC limit for youth to .02 or lower is
effective. These law changes serve as a general deterrent to drinking and
driving and ultimately save lives.
International Support...........
The World Medical Association
The British Medical Association
European Commission
United Nations
A SOCIETY IN DENIAL.........
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
24
or
A Proactive Response...........
Designated Driver Schemes.
Key Holding Schemes.
Incentivised Local /Community Transport Schemes.
Greater Education On Alcohol Intake, Metabolism And
Impairment.
Promotion of responsible drinking.
Incentivise industry to provide low alcohol/ alcohol free options.
Disseminate current best practice and initiatives
Thank you very much for your
attention
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
26