DRINKING-DRIVER PROBLEM - WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

• NCJ Number: 66465
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 62 pages
• Corporate Author: US Comptroller General
• Sale Source: Azimuth Inc.
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THERE IS A CHARGE FOR MORE THAN ONE COPY REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS

Annotation

DESPITE LOCAL, FEDERAL, AND STATE PROGRAMS TO COUNTERACT IT, DRINKING-DRIVER PROBLEMS SEEM TO PERSIST PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF SOCIETY'S GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF DRINKING AND DRIVING.

Abstract

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) AND ITS REGIONAL OFFICES WERE REVIEWED. FURTHER INFROMATION WAS OBTAINED BY SURVEY FROM STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS IN ALL 50 STATES AND PUERTO RICO AND FROM OFFICIALS IN CANADA, NORWAY, GREAT BRITAIN, AND AUSTRALIA. FROM THE DATA, THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) ASSESSED RECENT ACTIONS TO COMBAT DRINKING-DRIVER PROBLEMS, ACKNOWLEDGED OBSTACLES TO COUNTERMEASURES, AND IDENTIFIED IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM STEPS TO EFFECT IMPROVEMENTS. STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS HAVE INVOLVED SPECIAL PATROLS TO DETECT AND APPREHEND DRINKING DRIVERS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM. SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT DETECTS AND PROSECUTES DRINKING DRIVERS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL ENHANCES THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMBATING THE PROBLEM. LAWS ALSO PENALIZE THOSE WHO SERVE INTOXICATED INDIVIDUALS. MAJOR FEDERAL EFFORTS INCLUDE THE HIGHWAY SAFETY ACT OF 1966 AND THE ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROJECTS. THE LATTER INTEGRATED MANY STATE AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES; BETWEEN 1971 AND 1978, 35 AASP PROJECTS WERE CONDUCTED NATIONWIDE. THESE PROJECTS HELPED TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS, ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS, AND REFERRALS TO REHABILITATION, AND DECREASED THE NUMBER OF ALCOHOL-INVOLVED NIGHTTIME FATALITIES. HOWEVER, SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY AND USE OF ALCOHOL IS STILL AN OBSTACLE. EVALUATION METHODS, INCREASED JUDICIAL SUPPORT, EFFECTIVE PENAL METHODS, AND FEDERAL LEADERSHIP ARE NEEDED. CONTINUING AND INCREASED SUPPORT SHOULD BE GIVEN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) FOR COORDINATED STATE EFFORTS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH ON ALCOHOL ABUSE, TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL, AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. BRIEF REPORTS ARE PRESENTED FROM CANADA, NORWAY, GREAT BRITAIN, AND AUSTRALIA REGARDING THEIR DRINKING-DRIVER PROGRAMS. THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE IS APPENDED. (MHP)