NCJ Number
55718
Journal
MODERN PROBLEMS OF PHARMACOPSYCHIATRY Volume: 11, Dated: (1976) Pages: 1-10
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF AUTOMOBILE CRASH FATALITY RATES AND ALCOHOL INVOLVEMENT IN SUCH CRASHES WAS CONDUCTED TO DEVELOP A MORE EFFECTIVE PROGRAM FOR ENFORCING DRUNKEN DRIVING LAWS.
Abstract
FATALITY RATES IN AUTOMOBILE CRASHES VARY WIDELY AMONG NATIONS. FOR INSTANCE, IN 1970, JAPAN REPORTED A RATE OF 11.4 DEATHS, FINLAND HAD A RATE OF 6.2, AND THE U.S. RATE WAS 2.6 FATALITIES PER 100 MILLION VEHICLE KILOMETERS. WHILE RATES OF ALCOHOL INVOLVEMENT ARE IMPRECISE IN MANY COUNTRIES, FIGURES SHOW THAT ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED IN ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF ALL U.S HIGHWAY FATALITIES AND ONLY 27 PERCENT OF ALL FINNISH FATALITIES. SUCH FIGURES COULD HELP POLICE DEVELOP APPROPRIATE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS. IF DRUNKEN DRIVING IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, THEN EFFORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT ENFORCEMENT OF DRUNKEN DRIVING LAWS IS EXTREMELY LAX EVEN IN NATIONS CLAIMING TO HAVE VIGOROUS PROGRAMS. THEREFORE, LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD AIM TO MODIFY DRINKING BEHAVIOR OF DRIVERS BY MOUNTING A POWERFUL MEDIA CAMPAIGN. THE POLICE AND JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD BE ORGANIZED TO HANDLE A PROBLEM OF EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS, ESPECIALLY IF POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND COURTS ACCEPT THE PROPOSED PRACTICE OF CHARGING DRUNKEN DRIVERS WITH MOVING VIOLATIONS AGGRAVATED BY ALCOHOL. SUCH A PROGRAM SHOULD BE AIMED TO DETER PEOPLE FROM DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED AND TO APPREHEND VIOLATORS. LAWS COVERING DRUNKEN DRIVING SHOULD BE REEXAMINED AND SANCTIONS SHOULD RANGE FROM PUNITIVE TO THERAPEUTIC DEPENDING UPON THE PARTICULAR OFFENDER. TIME-SERIES STUDIES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUCH PROGRAMS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)