NCJ Number
101958
Journal
Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (October-December 1985) Pages: 15-39
Date Published
1985
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This literature review examines the effectiveness of two differing approaches to countering drunk driving: mandatory license revocations and suspensions and alcohol rehabilitation treatment. The review focuses on 1972-84 studies of repeat offenders, although evaluations of some first-offender countermeasures are included.
Abstract
Overall, the literature supports the effectiveness of license suspensions in reducing the accidents and drunk driving frequency of driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offenders. Results also indicate that suspensions are more effective than any known form of alcohol education or rehabilitation, including those that are paired with driving restrictions. Some recent evidence, however, suggests that alcohol education and rehabilitation may have a small positive impact on recidivism, particularly when compared to results for convicted DUI's who received no licensing sanctions. Combined with studies showing differential effects of countermeasures with differing offender types, studies suggest that deterrence effects of countermeasures could be increased by pairing suspension with alcohol treatment and excluding offenders with poor prognoses from treatment programs. 36 references.