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Editorial

Editorial The importance of alcohol intoxication as a risk of a major contribution of alcohol consumption to the factor in road accident involvement is rarely ques- production of road accident casualties in young adults tioned. Because of this attitude many drink-driving and also illustrate Simpson’s main thesis. countermeasures are based on a recognition of the importance of the problem rather than on a clear The characteristics of one of the major sources of understanding of its characteristics. This is not data on alcohol and crash involvement, compulsory necessarily a bad thing; malaria can be eradicated by blood testing of road crash casualties, are discussed by draining a swamp, regardless of whether the im- Strang and Mckrmott. The fact that theirs is one of mediate aim is to eliminate the source of the “bad air” the few papers to have been published on casualties, as or to interrupt the reproductive cycle of the Anopheles opposed to fatalities, is a reminder of Johnston’s mosquito. But no socially-acceptable drink-driving comment on the incompleteness of the data base in countermeasure has been shown to produce a major Australia. reduction in the incidence of alcohol-related crashes; hence the need for continuing research and evaluation. Smith discusses his evaluation of the effect on road safey of the introduction of Sunday alcohol sales The following papers were prepared by invitation in Perth. His detailed examination of the to form a basis for a discussion of the methodological methodological difficulties inherent in such an problems that confront research workers in this field. evaluation provides a partial explanation for the Johnston draws our attention to the incompleteness of paucity of adequate studies of this type. the data on alcohol and accidents and to the lack of any Australian estimate of the relative risk of crash involvement for intoxicated drivers. He notes how the The three remaining papers deal with the current emphasis on identification and control of the evaluation of treatment programs for drinking drivers drinking-driver has tended to obscure the possibilities in Australia. South concentrates on an assessment of for intervention in other areas. the possible contribution that such programs might make in reducing the road toll. Raymond pleads the case of the primacy of the individual in evaluative Simpson. writing from a Canadian viewpoint, research in this area and Seth also takes up the issue of emphasises the need to understand the ways in which ethical considerations, among others, in her discus- impairment due to alcohol interacts with other crash sion of the evaluation of the New South Wales risk factors, such as inexperience in both drinking and drink-driver rehabilitation scheme. driving. McMichael and McLean present time-trend data that relate changes in per capita consumption of A. J. McLean alcohol in Australia to variations in road accident Road Accident Research Unit rates. Their datacomborate previous survey evidence University of Adelaide http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Wiley

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
"Copyright © 1980 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company"
ISSN
1326-0200
eISSN
1753-6405
DOI
10.1111/j.1753-6405.1980.tb00715.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The importance of alcohol intoxication as a risk of a major contribution of alcohol consumption to the factor in road accident involvement is rarely ques- production of road accident casualties in young adults tioned. Because of this attitude many drink-driving and also illustrate Simpson’s main thesis. countermeasures are based on a recognition of the importance of the problem rather than on a clear The characteristics of one of the major sources of understanding of its characteristics. This is not data on alcohol and crash involvement, compulsory necessarily a bad thing; malaria can be eradicated by blood testing of road crash casualties, are discussed by draining a swamp, regardless of whether the im- Strang and Mckrmott. The fact that theirs is one of mediate aim is to eliminate the source of the “bad air” the few papers to have been published on casualties, as or to interrupt the reproductive cycle of the Anopheles opposed to fatalities, is a reminder of Johnston’s mosquito. But no socially-acceptable drink-driving comment on the incompleteness of the data base in countermeasure has been shown to produce a major Australia. reduction in the incidence of alcohol-related crashes; hence the need for continuing research and evaluation. Smith discusses his evaluation of the effect on road safey of the introduction of Sunday alcohol sales The following papers were prepared by invitation in Perth. His detailed examination of the to form a basis for a discussion of the methodological methodological difficulties inherent in such an problems that confront research workers in this field. evaluation provides a partial explanation for the Johnston draws our attention to the incompleteness of paucity of adequate studies of this type. the data on alcohol and accidents and to the lack of any Australian estimate of the relative risk of crash involvement for intoxicated drivers. He notes how the The three remaining papers deal with the current emphasis on identification and control of the evaluation of treatment programs for drinking drivers drinking-driver has tended to obscure the possibilities in Australia. South concentrates on an assessment of for intervention in other areas. the possible contribution that such programs might make in reducing the road toll. Raymond pleads the case of the primacy of the individual in evaluative Simpson. writing from a Canadian viewpoint, research in this area and Seth also takes up the issue of emphasises the need to understand the ways in which ethical considerations, among others, in her discus- impairment due to alcohol interacts with other crash sion of the evaluation of the New South Wales risk factors, such as inexperience in both drinking and drink-driver rehabilitation scheme. driving. McMichael and McLean present time-trend data that relate changes in per capita consumption of A. J. McLean alcohol in Australia to variations in road accident Road Accident Research Unit rates. Their datacomborate previous survey evidence University of Adelaide

Journal

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public HealthWiley

Published: Jul 1, 1980

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