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Blood tests for
road casualties
in Victoria
M ELBOURN'E,
Sunday. - Blood
alcohol tests will be
carried out on all road
accident victims ad
mitted to Victorian
hospitals.
The Premier, Mr
Hamer, said tonight the
driving licences of accident
victims would he reviewed
in accordance with the lest
results.
Mr Hamer also announ
ced that all vehicles regis
tered between October 1,
1964. and December,
1968. would have to have
seatbelts, and the police
force would be increased
by 500, a quarter of whom
would go to the traffic
branch.
Highway patrols would
be stepped up.
Speaking on radio. Mr
Hamer said nothing
seemed to deter the prob
lem drinker from driving.
"Therefore, with the co
operation of the Royal
Australasian College of
Surgeons and the Austra
lian Medical Association,
blood-alcohol tests of all
road casualties will be car
ried out on admission to
hospital", he said.
"The biggest single fac
tor in road accidents is
alcohol'', Mr Hamer said.
He said 75% of drivers
in single-vehicle deaths
had blood-alcohol contents
of double the legal limit
of ().5'/t.
The chairman of the
Royal Australasian College
of Surgeons road trauma
committee. Mr F. S. R.
Hughes, said tonighl that
the Government's move
was "tremendous".
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