A SURVEY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND REPORTED BEHAVIOUR ON THE TOPIC OF DRINK-DRIVING AND RANDOM BREATH TESTING, MAY 1991

This report provides a summary of the results of a survey designed to assess the changes that have occurred in peoples' awareness and attitudes to drink driving and random breath testing since two previous similar studies in 1989 and 1987. The purpose of the survey was also to obtain information to enhance the Road Safety Bureau's strategy to reduce illegal drink driving behaviour, and to address new issues and developments in the area of drink driving. The survey was conducted by telephone in NSW with a total of 1032 respondents, each respondent being between the ages of 17-69 years, having a current drivers licence and having consumed an alcoholic drink within the last 12 months. Respondents were drawn proportionally from Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga and Lismore. The data obtained from the survey was weighted by both area, sex and age and by the number of licence holders in NSW so that it would accurately reflect the NSW population in these areas. The responses in a number of areas were examined: random breath testing perceptions; driving information; drinking behaviour; aspects of drink driving behaviour; drink driving attitudes; drink driving laws; and strategies to avoid RBT (Random Breath Testing). The results of the survey in each of these areas are examined and discussed with particular emphasis on differences associated with age, sex, drink driving behaviour, number of times breath tested and risk of driving when over the limit on the last occasion out drinking.