Random breath testing: a 'prevention' based initiative

In 1976 the State Government of Victoria enacted legislation allowing its police to intercept motor vehicle drivers, without previous cause, and to test them for the presence of alcohol. The purpose of this legislation was to identify and prosecute as many alcohol affected drivers as possible. This was the birth of Random Breath Testing as we now know it. Experience has shown however, that rather than a detection based exercise, random breath testing has proved to be preventative in effect. Random breath testing is now considered to be the primary reason for the significant reduction in alcohol affected driving throughout Australia over the last decade.