If I Do I Might Get Caught, But I Doubt It - Abstracted Summary of Findings From a Final Report on the Citizens' Attitudes Survey

• NCJ Number: 100096
• Author(s): B S Vargus
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Indiana Governor's Task Force To Reduce Drunk Driving
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report presents the findings and recommendations from a random telephone interview of 402 Indiana residents in early 1984 and early 1985 to measure their knowledge about the problem of drunk driving and possible preventive strategies.

Abstract

The survey's supplemental goal was to measure change in citizens' attitudes and behavior over 1 year in response to increased public information, law enforcement, and public awareness regarding drunk driving. Since citizens generally perceive a low probability of apprehension for drunk driving, police patrols and activities to counter drunk driving should be increased. The drunk drivers in the study were most likely to perceive drunk driving laws as unfair, but they were least likely to mention the penalties, such as loss of license, provided in recent statutes. This suggests the need for more public information on drunk driving statutes. Since the majority of respondents support the use of roadblocks to detect drunk drivers, their use should be expanded. Respondents mentioned injury to self and others as the most threatening personal consequence of drunk driving. Public service messages emphasizing this theme should be increased. Findings also suggest the need for more information about the drunk-driving problem, the targeting of such information toward high-risk populations, and the publicizing of intoxication symptoms. Details of the research methodology are discussed.