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WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE 'DRUNKEN' DRIVER?

NCJ Number
52899
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 132-140
Author(s)
M ANDERSON
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
DOCUMENT OVERVIEWS ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL DRINKING DRIVERS IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, THE UNITED STATES, SWEDEN, AND NORWAY. TRADITIONAL PENAL SANCTIONS ARE FOUND INEFFECTIVE; OTHER APPROACHES ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON DRIVING BEHAVIOR IS WELL DOCUMENTED. NOW MOST ATTENTION IS FOCUSING ON ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL DRIVING WHILE DRINKING. RAYMOND'S CLASSIFICATION OF DRINKING BEHAVIOR IS REVIEWED AND STUDIES WHICH INDICATE THAT AN ADULT MALE'S DRINKING BEHAVIOR HAS STABILIZED BY AGE 30 ARE CITED. SURVEYS WHICH DOCUMENT THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF LICENSE REVOCATION ARE REVIEWED, AND IT IS POINTED OUT THAT, AROUND THE WORLD, COURTS ARE BEGINNING TO VIEW DRUNKEN DRIVING AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM AS WELL AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM. THE EXCEPTION IS SCANDINAVIA WHICH COMBINES RELATIVELY LOW ALCOHOL LIMITS FOR DRIVERS WITH SEVERE PRISON SENTENCES. ENGLAND TRIED A SIMILAR APPROACH, FOUND IT WORKED WITH OLDER DRIVERS BUT NOT WITH YOUNGER DRIVERS. A VARIETY OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS ARE REVIEWED INCLUDING THE AMERICAN ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROJECTS; THE PHOENIX, ARIZ., CLASSROOM COURSE; THE ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, COURSE; AND A NEW ZEALAND PROJECT. METHODS OF EVALUATING THESE EFFORTS ARE DISCUSSED. AN EVALUATION OF THE PHOENIX COURSE FOUND A REDUCTION IN RECORDED DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OFFENSES. A NEW ZEALAND STUDY FOUND FEWER VIOLATIONS BUT NO DECREASE IN ACTUAL CRASHES AMONG COURSE ATTENDEES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR EVALUATION MEASURES TO BE BUILT INTO DRINKING DRIVER REHABILITATION EFFORTS. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)