NCJ Number
96286
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1984) Pages: 379-384
Date Published
1984
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Whether or not there is a consensus of negative public opinion regarding drinking and driving was assessed through an experimental simulation of 22 incidences of role-playing drunks asking passersby for assistance in unlocking their car doors.
Abstract
Fifty students enrolled in a criminal justice simulation class at the University of Alabama in 1984 were assigned roles of drunk, observer, safety person, and police officer. Eight groups were created for the simulation, each consisting of one drunk, four observers, and one safety person. Across all simulations, 85 persons were approached by the drunks and asked for help in unlocking the car doors. Citizen response favored helping the drunk unlock the car door: 62 percent (53) of the sample helped the drunk unlock the car door; 38 percent (32) refused or ignored requests for help. White drunks received significantly more help in unlocking their doors than black drunks. This pattern was not due to sampling error or chance variation. There was no relationship between how a drunk was dressed and whether or not he was helped to unlock his car door. It is questionable whether the 38 percent who refused or ignored requests for help is sufficient to establish a consensus of negative public opinion regarding drinking and driving. Project findings indicate that a large proportion of citizens do not have a negative perception of drinking and driving. Tabular data and eight references are provided.