Alcohol, road crash casualties, and countermeasures.

Alcohol is a major contributing factor in over one-third of all road fatalities in this community. Almost half the fatalities occur in people aged less than 25 years of age. Results of recent compulsory blood test legislation in Australia and New Zealand are presented and provide incontrovertible evidence of the vast extent of the problem of alcohol on the road. The social and drinking profiles of road crash casualties with blood alcohol concentrations greater than .05 g/100 ml differ from those of other casualties. Countermeasures used in the control of this epidemic include legislation, improved community education, and greater awareness of the need to rehabilitate rather than to penalize.