Despite significant reductions in the magnitude of the alcohol-crash problem, drinking and driving continues to present a major threat to the safety of all road users. Today a substantial portion of the problem involves a relatively small group of persistent drinking drivers referred to as “hard-core” offenders. The defining characteristics of this group are: they repeatedly drive after drinking; they often do so with high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs)—i.e., over 150 mg%; and they appear relatively resistant to changing this behavior. The profile of the hard-core drinking driver is that of a male age 25—44 who drinks heavily and exhibits a variety of antisocial and deviant behaviors in addition to drunken driving. Two promising countermeasure options for dealing with this hard-core group of drinking drivers— alcohol ignition interlocks, and assessment and rehabilitation—are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ArgeriouM.McCartyD.and BlackerE. (1985). Criminality among individuals arraigned for drinking and driving in Massachusetts. Journal of Studies on Alcohol46: 525–530.
2.
Arstein-KerslakeG.W.and PeckR.C. (1986). A Typological Analysis of California DUI Offenders and DUI Recidivism Correlates. DOT HS 806 994. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
3.
BaileyJ.P.M. (1993). Criminal and traffic histories, blood alcohol and accident characteristics of drivers in fatal road accidents in New Zealand. In: H.-D.Utzelmann, BerghausG. and KrojG. (eds.), Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety—T92, Band2: 838–846. Cologne, Germany: Verlag TUV Rheinland.
4.
BeirnessD.J. (1996). Alcohol Ignition Interlocks: A link between punishing and helping systems. Paper presented at the Transportation Research Board Human Factors Workshop on new strategies for dealing with the persistent drinking driver. Washington: January1996.
5.
BeirnessD.J.FossR.and MercerW. (1997). Roadside breathtesting surveys to assess the impact of an enhanced DWI enforcement campaign in British Columbia. In: Mercier-GuyonC. (ed.), Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Volume 2: 955–962. Annecy, France: Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Médecine du Trafic.
6.
BeirnessD.J.MayhewD.R.and SimpsonH.M. (1997). DWI Repeat Offenders: A Review and Synthesis of the Literature. Ottawa: Health Canada.
7.
BeirnessD.J.MarquesP.M.VoasR.B.and TippettsS. (1997). Evaluation of the Alberta ignition interlock program: Preliminary results. In: Mercier-GuyonC. (ed.). Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety, Volume 1: 193–199. Annecy, France: Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Médecine du Trafic.
8.
Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (1995). Impaired driving—Canada, 1994. Juristat15 (4).
9.
Donelson.A.C., BeirnessD.J., HaasG.C. and WalshP.J. (1989). The Role of Alcohol in Fatal Traffic Crashes. Ottawa, Ontario: Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada.
10.
DonelsonA.C.BeirnessD.J.and MayhewD.R. (1985). Characteristics of Drinking Drivers. Impaired Driving Report No. 1.Ottawa, Ontario: Department of Justice, Canada.
11.
DonovanD.M.and MarlattG.A. (1983). Personality subtypes among driving-while-intoxicated offenders: Relationship to drinking behavior and driving risk. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology50: 241–249.
12.
DonovanD.M.SalzbergP.M.ChaneyE.F.QueisserH.R.and MarlattG.A. (1990). Prevention skills for alcohol-involved drivers. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving6(3–4): 169–188.
13.
DonovanD.M.QueisserH.R.SalzbergP.M.and UmlaufR. (1985). Intoxicated and bad drivers: Subgroups within the same population of high-risk men drivers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol46(5)375–382.
14.
DonovanJ.E. (1993). Young adult drinking-driving: Behavioral and psychosocial correlates. Journal of Studies on Alcohol54: 600–613.
15.
Electronics Test Centre (1992). Qualification Test Specification for Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (BAUD) for Use in the Province of Alberta. Edmonton, Alberta: Alberta Research Council.
16.
ElliottD. (1987). Self-reported driving while under the influence of alcohol/drugs and the risk of alcohol/drug-related accidents. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving3(3–4): 31–43.
17.
EMT Group (1990). Evaluation of the California interlock pilot program for DWI offenders. Sacramento, CA.
18.
FoonA.E. (1988). The effectiveness of drinking-driving treatment programs: A critical review. The International Journal of the Addictions23(2)151–174.
19.
GjerdeH.and MorlandJ. (1990). Repeat offences among arrested drunken drivers. Journal of Traffic Medicine18(4)175–178.
20.
Health and Welfare Canada (1988). Canada's Health Promotion Survey: Technical Report.
21.
RootmanI.WarrenR.StephensT. and PetersL. (eds.). Ottawa, Canada: Ministry of Supply and Services Canada.
22.
HedlundJ. (1995). Who is the persistent drinking driver? Part I. Transportation Research Circular437: 16–19.
23.
JonesB. (1993). The effectiveness of Oregon's ignition interlock program. In: H.-D.Utzelmann, BerghausG. and KrojG. (eds.), Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety-T92, Band3: 1460–1465. Cologne, Germany: Verlag TUV Rheinland.
24.
LandrumJ.W.SnowR.W.Wells-ParkerE.and AndersonB.J. (1987). Six to nine year recidivism rates of DUI offenders. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Mid-South Sociological Association, Memphis, TN.
25.
L'HosteJ.and PapozL. (1985). The role played by acute and chronic alcoholism in road accidents: The results of an epidemiological study conducted in France. In: KayS. (ed.), Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Saftey–T83, 841–858. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
26.
MannR.E.AnglinL.WilkinsK.VingilisE.R.and MacdonaldS. (1993). Mortality in a sample of convicted drinking drivers. In: H.-D.Utzelmann, BerghausG. and KrojG. (eds.), Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety–T92, Band 2: 854–859. Cologne, Germany: Verlag TUV Rheinland.
27.
MannR.E.LeighG.VingilisE.R.and DeGenovaK. (1983). A critical review on the effectiveness of drinking-driving rehabilitation programmes. Accident Analysis and Prevention15(6)441–461.
28.
MarquesP.R.VoasR.B.BeirnessD.J.TaylorE.P.and CossinsD.E. (1997). Alberta interlock program: Services intervention update. In: Mercier-GuyonC. (ed.), Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety, 201–206. Annecy, France: International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Médecine du Trafic.
29.
MayhewD.R.BeirnessD.J.and SimpsonH.M. (1996). Drinking Driving in Canada: 1974–1993. Ottawa, Ontario: Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada.
30.
MayhewD.R.BrownS.W.and SimpsonH.M. (1997). Alcohol Use Among Drivers and Pedestrians Fatally Injured In Motor Vehicle Accidents: Canada,.1995Ottawa, Ontario: Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada.
31.
McMillenD.L.AdamsM.S.Wells-ParkerE.PangM.G.and AndersonB.J. (1992). Personality traits and behaviors of alcohol-impaired drivers: A comparison of first and multiple offenders. Addictive Behaviors17: 407–414.
32.
MorseB.J.and ElliottD.S. (1992). Effects of ignition interlock devices on DUI recidivism: Findings from a longitudinal study in Hamilton County, Ohio. Crime and Delinquency38(2)131–157.
33.
MoskowitzH. (ed.) (1990). Prevention of recidivism by DWI offenders. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving6(3–4): 109–211.
34.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (1992). Model specifications for breath alcohol ignition interlock devices (BAIIDs). Federal Register57: 11772–11787.
35.
NeffR.L.and LandrumJ.W. (1983). The Life Activities Inventory as a countermeasure for driving while intoxicated. Journal of Studies on Alcohol44: 755–769.
36.
NochajskiT.H.MillerB.A. and ParksK.A. (1994). Comparison of first-time and repeat DWI offenders. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Maui, Hawaii, June18–23, 1994. Buffalo, NY: Research Institute on Addictions.
37.
PerrineM.W.PeckR.C.and FellJ.C. (1989). Epidemiologic perspectives on drunk driving. In: Surgeon General's Workshop on Drunk Driving: Background Papers, 35–76. Rockville, MD: Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General.
38.
PopkinC.L.StewartJ.R.BeckmeyerJ.and MartellC. (1993). An evaluation of the effectiveness of interlock systems in preventing DWI recidivism among second-time DWI offenders. In: H.-D.Utzelmann, BerghausG. and KrojG. (eds.), Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety–T92, Band 3: 1466–1470. Cologne, Germany: Verlag TUV Rheinland.
39.
SimonS.M. (1992). Incapacitation alternatives for repeat DWI offenders. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving8(1)51–60.
40.
SimpsonH.M.and MayhewD.R. (1991). The Hard Core Drinking Driver. Ottawa, Ontario: Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada.
41.
SimpsonH.M.MayhewD.R.and BeirnessD.J. (1996). Dealing With the Hard Core Drinking Driver. Ottawa, Ontario: Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada.
42.
SimpsonH.M.MayhewD.R.and BeirnessD.J. (1992). National Survey on Drinking and Driving. 1988. Technical Report Health and Welfare Canada: Ministry of Supply and Services.
43.
Statistics Canada (1996). Causes of Death,.1994Ottawa, Ontario: Statistics Canada, Health Statistics Division.
44.
SweedlerB.M. (ed.) (1995). Strategies for dealing with the persistent drinking driver. Transportation Research CircularNo. 437.Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
45.
TemerR.G.PeckR.C.PerrineM.W.and BorokL.S. (1987). Study of the relative effectiveness of disulfuram vs. Alcoholics Anonymous participants in the treatment of drinking driver offenders. In: NoordzijP.C. and RoszbachR. (eds.), Alcohol, Drugs, and Traffic Safety—T86, 571–575. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.
46.
TimkenD.S.PackardM.A.Wells-ParkerE. and BogueB. (1995). Rehabilitation of the persistent drinking/drugging driver. In: Strategies for Dealing with the Persistent Drinking Driver, Transportation Research Circular, Number 437: 63–67. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
47.
VingilisE.R. (1983). Drinking drivers and alcoholics: Are they from the same population? In: SmartR.GlasserF.IsraelY.et al. (eds.), Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems. Vol. 7: 299–342. New York: Plenum Publishing.
48.
WeinrathM. (1997). The ignition interlock program for drunk drivers: A multivariate test. Crime & Delinquency43(1)42–59.
49.
Wells-ParkerE.Bangert-DrownsR.McMillenD.L.and WilliamsM. (1995). Final results from a meta-analysis of remedial interventions with drink/drive offenders. Addiction90: 907–926.
50.
Wells-ParkerE.AndersonB.J.LandrumJ.W.and SnowR.W. (1988). Long-term effectiveness of probation, short-term intervention and LAI administration for reducing DUI recidivism. British Journal of Addictions83: 415–421.
51.
Wells-ParkerE.CosbyP.J.and LandrumJ.W. (1986). A typology for drinking driving offenders: Methods for classification and policy implications. Accident Analysis and Prevention18(6)443–453.
52.
Wells-ParkerE.LandrumJ.W.and SpencerB.G. (1979). Analytic Study: Preliminary Analysis of the DUI Probation Follow-Up Project, December 1979. Mississippi: Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University.
53.
WilkinsK.and MarkE. (1991). Potential years of life lost, Canada, 1987–1988. Chronic Diseases in Canada12(2)12–15.
54.
WilsonJ. (1992). Convicted impaired drivers and high-risk drivers: How similar are they?Journal of Studies on Alcohol53(4)335–344.
55.
WilsonR.J. (1991). Subtypes of DWIs and high-risk drivers. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving7(1)1–12.
