NCJ Number
177338
Date Published
1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This bulletin presents 1997 statistics on drivers required to undergo a screening breath test, as well as the numbers of positive tests and tests refused.
Abstract
During 1997, 860,400 screening breath tests were administered by police officers. This was the largest number of screening tests recorded since breath testing was introduced by the Road Safety Act of 1967, and it was a 10-percent increase from the 781,100 screening tests recorded during 1996. The number of positive or refused tests also increased to 103,500 in 1997, a 3-percent increase from 1996. The proportion of tests that were positive or refused in 1997, however, decreased by almost 1 percentage point from 13 percent in 1996 to 12 percent in 1997. This proportion has been declining since at least 1979, when 51 percent of those tested were either positive, refused, or were unable to be tested. The decline in the proportion of tests that were positive or refused reflects the large increase in tests conducted. The continuing reduction in the proportion of drivers who tested positive also suggests that there continues to be a change in driver behavior regarding drinking and driving. Recent figures from the Department of Transport support this interpretation. Nearly one-fifth of screening tests were conducted during December, which coincides with the regular Christmas campaign against drinking and driving. 4 tables, 3 figures, and 9 notes