1982: Introduction of Random Breath Testing (RBT)

In 1978, 1384 people died on New South Wales (NSW) roads and it was the deadliest year on record for road fatalities in the state. At the end of the 1970s and into the early 1980s, around 1300 people were dying on average in road accidents across New South Wales.

Drink-Driving was identified as a significant factor contributing to the death toll, with around 40% of road fatalities resulting from a driver driving under the influence of alcohol. Such deaths were identified as preventable.

In September 1982, the State Government Safety Road Committee recommended the introduction of Random Breath Testing (RBT). It was to be trialled for three years and became permanent in 1985.

Source: Grimshaw, P. 1982. "Tough new blitz on roads". The Daily Telegraph, September 30: 1.

RBT commenced on Friday, December 17 1982, and drivers were warned of police presence on the roads.

Source: Stanley, A. 1982. "Breath test blitz all weekend". The Daily Telegraph, December 17: 2. 

The first tests were undertaken on Parramatta Road at Granville after 7 pm.

Source: Crosthwaite, R.  1982. "First drivers all under limit". The Daily Telegraph, December 18: 2. 

It was reported that road deaths had started decreasing in the lead-up to the introduction of RBT because it triggered, for drivers, a fear of being caught drink driving. RBT led to the introduction of the booze buses where further testing could occur.

Source: Stanley, A. 1982. "Publicity on tests hammers fear in drivers". The Daily Telegraph, December 16: 5. 

Below is a newspaper advertisement explaining how RBT would work. It was "quite simple".

The legacy of RBT

The introduction of RBT has contributed to the overall decrease in the road toll in NSW. By 1985, the annual road toll had dropped to less than 1100. By 2021, the road toll had dropped to 270, the lowest figure since 1923 (COVID restrictions, especially in the second half of 2021, meant fewer vehicle movements), before settling at 349 in 2023.

Other key figures that show the success of RBT include:

• The share of deaths resulting from drink driving annually has halved from around 40% to as little as 17%.
• The overall number of deaths as a result of drink driving has decreased by nearly 90% in the past four decades.

RBT has also changed the way that people drink when they are out. One could no longer stop at the pub for a drink on the way home if they were driving or restricted their drinking. On the positive side, it encouraged responsible drinking, and for those who wished to have a drink, consider other options for transport, such as using public transport, having a friend or family member drive who would not drink, or using taxis (and ride-sharing in more recent years).