Publication Details

• Course completion rates increased from 84% in 2012 to 90% in 2013, 2014 and 2015;

• Surveys indicated that courses improved attendees’ attitudes towards drink driving;

• Courses may have contributed to reductions in drink driving detections in the ACT;

• Based on these findings, the program has been performing well since its inception.

Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a significant road safety issue. As of the 25th of November 2011, drivers in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) who have been found guilty of a drink or drug driving offence are required to undertake an Alcohol and Drug Awareness Course (ADAC) before being issued with a restricted or probationary licence. This study evaluated the performance of ADACs provided in the ACT. Key performance indicators on the provision of ADACs (e.g. enrollments) were obtained from the ACT Government for 2012 to 2017. Surveys of knowledge and attitudes towards drink and drug driving were given to 94 attendees immediately before and after ADACs between August and November 2017. Data on drink driving detections in the ACT between 2002 and 2016 were also obtained from the ACT Goverment. Completion rates for individuals enrolled in the courses increased from 84% in 2012 to 90% in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Survey results indicated that the courses improved attitudes towards drink driving. However, knowledge of drink and drug driving information did not improve, although this may have been partly due to methodological limitations. Also, ADACs may have contributed to a reduction in drink driving detections (and possibly overall drink driving behaviour) in the ACT between 2012 and 2016, particularly for repeat offences. However, the reduction is also likely to be at least partially due to other factors (e.g. other drink driving countermeasures). Based on these findings, the ADAC program has been performing well since its inception.