WOMEN ARRESTED FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING IN BOSTON (MA) SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF ARREST

• NCJ Number: 48404
• Journal: Journal of Studies on Alcohol Volume: 37 Issue: 5 Dated: (1976) Pages: 648-658
• Author(s): M ARGERIOU; D PAULINO
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Rutgers University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY OF 73 WOMEN ARRESTED FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) AND REFERRED TO THE BOSTON ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROJECT SHOWS WOMEN DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM MEN IN DRINKING/DRIVING BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

STATISTICALLY, DRIVING AFTER DRINKING IS A PREDOMINANTLY MALE PHENOMENON. ONLY 5-10 PERCENT OF THOSE ARRESTED ON DWI CHARGES ARE WOMEN. THIS SMALL, BUT STILL SIGNIFICANT GROUP CONSISTED OF 73 WOMEN REFERRED TO THE ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROJECT AFTER A DWI; 56 WERE WHITE AND 17 WERE BLACK. THEIR EDUCATIONAL LEVEL WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE MEAN FOR BOSTON (12 YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETED), BUT THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS WAS FAIRLY REPRESENTATIVE. MEDIAN AGE WAS 34, SOMEWHAT YOUNGER THAN OTHER SAMPLES STUDIED IN 1962. THIS MAY REFLECT A TREND AMONG YOUNGER WOMEN TO ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR PATTERNS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED THE DOMAIN OF MEN. THIS TREND IS CONFIRMED BY OTHER STUDIES WHICH SHOW THAT PROBLEM DRINKING AMONG WOMEN IS INCREASING WHILE REMAINING RELATIVELY STABLE FOR MEN. MOST OF THE WOMEN WERE EITHER SINGLE (41 PERCENT) OR WERE DIVORCED, SEPARATED, OR WIDOWED (41 PERCENT); OF THESE, 65 PERCENT WERE LIVING ALONE. THESE STATISTICS ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN FOR MEN LIVING ALONE IN DWI STUDIES. MOST ARRESTS OCCURRED IN LATE EVENING OR EARLY MORNING HOURS ON THE WEEKEND. MOST WOMEN HAD BEEN DRINKING IN A PUBLIC PLACE. THE ARREST WAS USUALLY THE RESULT OF A TRAFFIC VIOLATION, INVOLVEMENT IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR. FEW WOMEN WERE PICKED UP ON SUSPICION OF DRUNK DRIVING, REFLECTING THE RELUCTANCE OF POLICE TO INVESTIGATE A WOMAN DRIVER FOR MERELY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR. AN IMPORTANT SUBSAMPLE WAS FOUND. THE MARRIED WOMEN (18 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE) WERE USUALLY ARRESTED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON ON A WEEKDAY AND ALMOST ALWAYS AFTER AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE RELUCTANCE OF POLICE TO PICK UP WOMEN ON DWI CHARGES APPEARS FAVORABLE ON THE SURFACE, BUT IT IS INJURIOUS IN THE LONG RUN IF IT HELPS PROBLEM DRINKERS ELUDE THEIR ALCOHOLIC PROBLEM. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)