The development of a drink-driving countermeasures package has produced a positive change in community attitude and has played a significant part in reducing the incidence of road crash casualties in the State of Victoria, Australia. There has been a drop in annual fatalities from 1061 in 1970 to 702 in 1982 against a background of an increase in fuel consumption, licences and kilometres driven as well as a marked shift from the use of 8 and 6 cylinder cars to lighter 4 cylinder cars.

The results of a 2 year study (1980-1982) of illegal drink-driving showed a significant drop in the blood alcohol concentration of drivers who were either breath tested by patrol activity (including random testing) or blood tested as hospital casualties after a road crash. It is contended that these components of the alcohol countermeasures package provide a valuable data base for evaluation of existing countermeasures and the development of new initiatives as well as having an influence on community attitudes towards drink-driving.