NCJ Number
12012
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 40 Issue: 12 Dated: (DECEMBER 1973) Pages: 58-67
Date Published
1973
Length
10 pages
Annotation
PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SITUATIONAL FACTORS SURROUNDING THE PROBLEM OF MILITARY PERSONNEL DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.
Abstract
THIS PAPER INCLUDES AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM, ATTITUDES OF THE POLICE AND THE PROSECUTOR, METHODS OF RESEARCH, AND THE RESULTS OF DATA COLLECTED IN THE COURSE OF EFFORTS TO CURTAIL TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND INJURIES. THE MAIN CONCERN IS WITH SERVICEMEN WHO PERFORMED WELL ON THE VIDEOTAPE-RECORDED FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS IN SPITE OF HIGH BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS. INFORMATION DERIVED FROM RETURNED QUESTIONNAIRES CASTS DOUBT ON THE FIRST HYPOTHESIS CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF ONE'S PHYSICAL CONDITION AND ABILITY IN PERFORMING WELL ON FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS WHILE SEVERELY INTOXICATED. THE SECOND ASSUMPTION, THAT SEVERELY INTOXICATED DRIVERS WOULD REFLECT HIGH LEVELS OF FAMILY AND SOCIAL INSTABILITY, IS CONFIRMED. THE STUDY DID INDICATE PROBLEM OR DEVIANT DRINKING HABITS ON THE PART OF THE SUBJECTS INVOLVED. ONE THIRD OF THE SUBJECTS HAD PREVIOUS ALCOHOL-RELATED VIOLATIONS. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE CONDITIONED THEIR ACTIONS SO THAT THEY APPEAR TO BE MERELY SLOW AND DELIBERATE. IN ADDITION THE NATURAL RIGIDITY OF THEIR OCCUPATION APPEARING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HABITUAL DRINKING HABITS. THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM WAS THE LACK OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO DRINK AND DRIVE. THE MAJORITY APPREHENDED EITHER REFUSED TO ADMIT, OR WERE UNAWARE OF THEIR ACTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)