NCJ Number
135605
Journal
Journal of Applied Social Psychology Volume: 19 Issue: 14 Dated: (October 1990) Pages: 1212-1237
Date Published
1989
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This interrupted time series design study focuses on the effects of the Arizona drunk driving law of 1982 which involved mandatory jail terms for those convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Abstract
A series of questions were posed to assess the effectiveness of the new law to determine if significant reductions in motor vehicle fatalities had occurred. Phoenix and San Diego were chosen as sites for the study because of their similar DWI laws; El Paso was chosen for contrast because its DWI laws did not change during the study, and no change in the number of fatalities was expected. Intense newspaper coverage measured in specific amounts highlighted a reduction of about 52 fatalities. San Diego and Phoenix showed an initial reduction in traffic fatalities of about 50 percent with an estimated slower rate of decline than had been demonstrated in previous studies. 3 graphs, 1 table, 26 references