STAGE 5. Defining the action plan

What steps should be completed?

Step 1: Specify intervention actions

INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE ALCOHOL-RELATED TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION

Establishing a maximum legal level of alcohol in the blood for drivers

This measure is effective in reducing the number of alcohol-related traffic victims,¹ but it must be accompanied by random alcohol testing on the road.² When both measures are applied together, the fatality rate for traffic accidents in the population decreases.¹ Lowering the permissible maximum limits of blood alcohol for young people and inexperienced drivers also seems highly effective in reducing fatal traffic accidents and accidents that cause injuries.³

Media campaigns on alcohol and driving

These help improve alcohol and traffic policies and reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents and associated injuries.⁴

Designated driver

Due to the small scale of the effects observed and existing limitations on outcomes in studies carried out to evaluate these programmes, there is currently insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions about their effectiveness¹.

FOR PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMATIC DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

Suspension of driving license

Suspending driving licences for drivers convicted or sanctioned for alcohol and traffic problems only partially reduces the recidivism of driving under the influence of alcohol, or reduces accidents related to alcohol consumption. Without some kind of education programme, counselling or treatment, the effects only last while the driver is legally unable to drive because their license has been suspended.¹

Engine ignition blockers (alcohol locks)

Blocking engine ignition when sobriety limits are exceeded, which is imposed under the authority of a court or traffic department, reduces recidivism in drivers with alcohol problems more effectively than suspending driving licenses. However, once the engine ignition block is removed, these differences disappear, so there is only an effect on the driver while the ignition lock remains.^5,6

Referral to treatment for people who are serving sentences for driving under the influence of alcohol

The authority with competence to impose prison sentences for traffic safety offences may provide the legal basis to refer drivers convicted of offenses related to driving under the influence of alcohol to treatment programmes. This measure has proven to be effective in reducing relapses in driving under the effects of alcohol, both in first-time offenders and in reoffenders.^1,7

 

References:

1 WHO (2009). Evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.

2 Albalate D. (2006). Lowering blood alcohol content levels to save lives: the European experience. Research Institute of Applied Economics.  20-39.

3 Shults RA et al. (2001). Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to reduce alcohol-impaired driving. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 21: 66–88.              

4 Elder RW et al. (2004). Effectiveness of mass media campaigns for reducing drinking and driving and alcohol-involved crashes: a systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 27: 57–65.

5 Voas RB et al. (1999). The Alberta Interlock Program: the evaluation of a province-wide program. Addiction. 94: 1857–1867.

6 Willis C, Lybrand S & Bellamy N. (2004). Alcohol ignition interlock programmes for reducing drink driving recidivism. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4):CD004168.

7 Wells-Parker E et al. (1995). Final results from a meta-analysis of remedial interventions with DUI offenders. Addiction. 90 (7): 907–926.