Evaluating the deterrent effect of random breath testing (RBT) and random drug testing (RDT) - The driver's perspective: Research findings

Alcohol continues to be the most prevalent drug causing road trauma. Recent figures show that alcohol was a factor in 11-48 percent of road fatalities and drugs were present in between six and 32 percent of fatalities, depending on the jurisdiction. This report presents the findings from the project evaluation of the deterrent effect of Random Breath Testing (RBT) and Random Drug Testing (RDT)-The driver's perspective undertaken by the Ipsos-Eureka Social Research Institute and Victoria Police in 2009. The project was funded by the National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund (NDLERF). The project involved a review component involving interviews with law enforcement agencies across Australia, a qualitative component involving interviews with alcohol and drugs users, and a quantitative component involving an Australia-wide survey of alcohol and drug users (drivers). Australian jurisdiction-specific data is also presented, so that law enforcement agencies can assess the deterrence value of their current RBT and RDT practice to drivers. Importantly, the study focused on measuring RBT and RDT law enforcement practices, from the driver's perspective, rather than from law enforcement activity reports.