A different approach to Indigenous drink driving is needed to incorporate cultural factors in outer regional and remote Australia

Abstract

[Extract] We recommend that cultural factors be included in Indigenous-specific drink driving programs. Indigenous Australians experience fatal road crashes at rates 2.8 times higher than the Australian population and rates of serious injuries 1.3 times higher.¹ The majority (70%) of more than 90 fatal road injuries and 60% of around 1,600 serious road injuries per year are suffered by Indigenous Australians resident in 'outer regional', 'remote' and 'very remote' localities.1 Indigenous Australians in these often isolated, socially excluded, discrete populations suffer a disproportionate proportion of the preventable 'health gap' including injury, with injury due to alcohol a main contributor.²