Alcoholic drinkers and road safety in the Republic of Slovenia

In this study we were therefore interested in the percentage of road traffi c offences (RTO) and road traffic accidents (RTA) involving inebriated driv ers one year before and one year after the passing of the new Law on Road T raffic Safety (LRTS) as well as measures (referrals, punishments and final decisions on the revoking of driver's licences due to drunk driving). One year before the passing of the new LRTS, there were 40,702 RTA-s in the Republic of Slovenia (12.2% caused by drunk drivers). The average alcohol concentration in exhaled air for those analysed was 1.19 g/kg. One year aft er the passing of this law there were 36,479 RTA-s (8.6% caused by drunk dr ivers). The average alcohol concentration in exhaled air for those analysed was 1,32 g/kg (the differences were statistically significant). In 13.8% c ases the reason for permorming a measurement of the alcohol concentration i n exhaled aier was an RTA with an average? alcohol concentration in exhaled air of 1.22 g/kg and in 86.2% of cases an RTO with an average alcohol conc entration in exhaled air of 1.25 g/kg (the differences were statistically s ignificant). We found it interesting that the number of events minvolving l ower concentrations decreased, but the percentage involving higher alcohol concentrations even increased. The results of this study indicate without a doubt that the law was not suc cessful enough with its repressive and preventative measures in the field o f drunk drivers. Experts on alcohol believe that punishment cannot mate alc oholics anal other drivers abandon their behavioural patterns and stop driv ing under the influence of alcohol. This can be achived only by treatment, and the present practice (police - misdenveanour counts - repeat general me dical check-up) has been ineffective as prevention among alcoholic drivers. We therefore believe that supplemants to the LRTS should be adopted urgent ly, that would contribute, through better medical selection, to a reduction in the number of drunk drivers behind the eheel, both those who are alcoho l dependet land should be referred to treatment).