Home > The 2007 PSI lecture: Is Ireland ready for a change in drink-driving legislation?

Fuller, Ray and Gormley, Michael (2007) The 2007 PSI lecture: Is Ireland ready for a change in drink-driving legislation? The Irish Journal of Psychology, 28, (3-4), pp. 169-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/03033910.2007.10446259.

In the context of the impending change in the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for drivers (Road Safety Authority, 2007a), the aim of this paper is to examine recent surveys of attitudes and behaviour regarding drink-driving, to provide an estimate of any trends that may be apparent as well as current attitudes and behaviour. Any change in policy can only work, of course, if people comply with the law. This can be induced with high levels of enforcement, but it is far better if people comply with the law because they think it is a good law. Four main sources of information are examined, sampling driver responses from 1997 through to 2006 and including 3494 adults of whom 2804 were drivers. It was found that many drivers were unclear as to the current BAC limit. Those who did think they knew tended to err on the conservative side. Fifty percent agree that any alcohol may affect their driving, and drink-driving is seen as extremely shameful. A majority of drivers support Mandatory Alcohol Testing, stiffer penalties, and the introduction of rehabilitation courses for repeat offenders. Over 75% of drivers support a lower BAC, which is part of a continuing trend since 1997. Sixty-six percent now favour a zero limit, and 90% a zero limit for new drivers. Although there are some reservations regarding interpretation of some of the published data, the evidence reviewed here indicates a progressive cultural shift against drinking and driving. Thus the time seems appropriate for the government to implement a lowered permitted BAC strategy.


Item Type
Article
Publication Type
Irish-related, Article
Drug Type
Alcohol
Intervention Type
Harm reduction
Date
2007
Identification #
https://doi.org/10.1080/03033910.2007.10446259
Page Range
pp. 169-184
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Volume
28
Number
3-4
EndNote
Accession Number
HRB (Available)
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