Year

Measure

Developments in drink-driving

1974

Introduction of:

• a legal BAC limit of 0.05 g/l;
• (chemical) test tubes for the selection of suspects;
• blood analysis for evidential purposes.

All this was accompanied by intensive information ('the November Law'). These measures made the first focussed police enforcement of drink-driving possible.

1974-1983

Drink-driving in weekend nights declined from 15% in the early 1970s to 12% in the early 1980s. Shortly after the introduction of the 0.05 g/l limit, only 1% of drivers were drink-drivers because they initially estimated the risk of being caught as much higher than it really was.

1984

The gradual introduction of electronic breath testers to replace the test tubes, reducing the risk of false negatives and lowering the cost per breath test.

1984-1986

During the 1984-1986 period the risk of being caught increased considerably and drink-driving during weekend nights declined further to 8% in 1987. The decrease was highest among young drivers, showing a positive effect of the information campaigns.

1985

Gradual change from select- to random police checks to increase the general preventative effect of enforcement.

1986

The Dutch Traffic Safety Association and the Ministry of Health start campaigns focussed on the young.

1987

Introduction of breath analysis for evidential purposes to increase the efficiency of police enforcement.

1987-1991

The introduction of breath analysis and tit-for-tat policy led to a further increase of random police enforcement and, with it, an increase in the risk of being caught. The percentage of drink-drivers during weekend nights dropped further to 3.9% in 1991. Alternative transport being available has probably also had a positive effect, but it is unknown to what extent.

1988

Introduction of a tit-for-tat policy for the lighter offenders - settlement proposal immediately after breath analysis for evidential purposes - to increase the efficiency of sanctioning.

1988

Introduction of special public transport for customers of pubs and discos.

1991

Further extension of the tit-for-tat policy: heavier offenders also immediately receive a filled-in summons to appear in court, usually together with a settlement proposal

1992

Severer penalties for drink-driving; including higher fines and faster seizure of the driving licence by the police.

1992-1994

The severer penalties have had no demonstrable effect on drink-driving, which increased to 4.9% in 1994. This increase followed a temporary large decrease of police enforcement because of large scale police reorganization.

1996

Introduction of the 'Regulation Measures Driving skills and fitness to drive '. This gives the Minister of Transport the possibility to oblige drink-drivers to follow a three day course on alcohol and traffic which they have to pay for themselves, or otherwise undergo a test of their fitness to drive.

1995-1999

During this period weekend night drink-driving stabilized at about 4.5%.

1999

Introduction of regional police teams for traffic enforcement.

2000-2004

In the 2000-2004 period the number of random alcohol checks doubled. The percentage of drink-drivers decreased further to about 3.5%. Furthermore the relatively large decrease among the young male drivers is striking. Their percentage being involved in severe injury crashes after drinking decreased from 25% to 22%.

2001

Start of the Designated Driver campaign which is regularly being repeated. Establishment of the Regional Traffic Enforcement Teams that resulted in the doubling of random enforcement between 2001 and 2004.

2006

The legal BAC limit for novice drivers was lowered to 0.2 g/l.