["Drinking and driving" with various blood alcohol limit values in Europe].

Abstract

Within the framework of a comparative cross-national study led by INRETS, France, in 1991/92, representative surveys of drivers were conducted in 15 European countries. The survey covered a wide spectrum of biographical driver data as well as opinions and attitudes to practically all subjects of road traffic. In this context, the "drinking and driving" subject was of special interest. A comparison was made between drivers from 10 countries with a legal BAC limit of 0.08% and drivers from 5 countries with a legal BAC limit of or under 0.05%. Drivers from countries with a legal BAC limit below 0.08% state more often that they never drive after drinking even a small amount of alcohol; have been stopped and breathalysed by the police on at least one occasion; expect to be stopped and breathalysed by the police on a typical journey. They further advocate more breath tests by the police in their country and harsher penalties for drivers found to be over the limit. Where low legal BAC limits are in force, they are accepted in most cases. The extent to which these basically positive attitudes may also be relevant on the traffic scene, cannot be answered based on this survey alone. It is common knowledge that opinions and attitudes represent only one determining factor of a whole complex of factors influencing behaviour.