General
Overview of This Web site
I believe the company
which produces this page is called NCADD,
"Coming Together Against Drunk Driving". They present the drunk
driving information through Traffic Safety Research Abstracts and Applications
(TSRA). A compilation of reviewed research on the topic of drunk
driving. The personnel of TSRA work with Wichita State University
researchers in establishing summaries and application methods from research
done on the many aspects of drinking and driving.
This site contains
valuable information in terms of what works in prevention and deterrence
of drunk driving and what does not. For example, research shows that
scare tactics and presented alcohol/drug facts do not curb drinking
and driving among teens as much as teen involvement in prevention programs
through the schools and communities. When one clicks on the highlighted
article title the article itself appears and under it follows a list of
sources from which the TSRA personnel retrieve DUI facts and information.
These sources are also links to the actual research information themselves.
If one cannot find
the topic of choice in the article list; one simply has to click on the
link, "Click here to search TSRA" and a search box appears much like those
used by search engines on the web. It explains the process of typing
in the topic desired and a list of research sources and articles pop up
so that one may conveniently click on the titles to view the information.
For example, I wanted to know what "Ignition Interlock" was so, I clicked
on "Click here to search TSRA" button and typed in "Ignition Interlock"
and up came four articles and research sources. I then clicked on
the first source listed, "Effects of Ignition Interlock Devices on DUI
recidivism" and in this source was mentioned "An ignition interlock device
connects a breath analyzer to a vehicle's ignition. To start the car, the
driver must blow into the analyzer. If the breath test shows the driver's
blood alcohol concentration (BAC) meets or exceeds the legal limit
for driving, the car will not start."
Another aspect of the
TSRA web page is where the browser is able to click on the "I Can't
Find My Topic" button which allows the browser to type in the topic desired;
followed by a statement which reads if the topic you chose was not listed;
send a message through the "Register" button so that they may review your
request and maybe the next time you visit the page your topic will be present.
This page is very convenient
to the user who is interested in statistical information and research
data on drunk driving. With the use of links throughout the page
one finds it very easy and appealing to search back and forth from summary
to research information to various sources on the same topic of choice.
Youth and Drinking and Driving
In this first article
the focus is on the drinking and driving behaviors among youth and
how methods of prevention work. It seems the attempt here was to
indicate the best ways to deter drunk driving behaviors, which methods
did not work and how legal aspects might be utilized to compliment the
prevention programs.
Methods which dissuade
adolescents from driving drunk and riding with intoxicated drivers are
education and change of attitudes. Through prevention programs offered
by the schools and community; children are able to play an active role
in changing their own beliefs and behaviors. This is accomplished
by having the youth become teachers themselves by informing their
peers how to resist pressure to drink and how to convince a friend,
who is intoxicated, not to drive. Youth gain the feeling of worth
when they participate in the project actively. Another
avenue in deterring youth from driving intoxicated is through legal actions.
Such as zero tolerance laws for driver's under 21. Consequences would
be prosecution of the youthful DUI driver as an adult and revocation of
their driver's license until they reach 21.
My Reaction
I believe this
would definitely reduce the rate of youthful DUI driver's. Simply because
those teenager's who are blessed with the opportunity to drive a vehicle
would certainly not desire to give up such a privilege. I have recently
heard on the radio stations an announcement which warns youthful driver's
if they are caught with any alcohol in their systems while driving their
license is revoked. So, it seems Hawai'i has adopted this law just
recently. I am certain this stiff penalty will surely decrease the
number of intoxicated youth driver's in Hawai'i.
Deterring Methods That Don't Work
In the past the aim
of preventing drunk driving among youth and adolescents was to use scare
tactics and present factual information. Research now proves that
scare tactics had little or no effect on drunk driving behaviors of youth.
Many of the anti-alcohol and drug promotions were over exaggerated.
My Reaction
I personally associate this tactic with the example of the commercial where the frying pan is pictured on the screen and an announcer says "This is your brain" (a hot frying pan), then the voice says "This is your brain on drugs" (an egg is cracked into the scorching pan) and finally the person says "Any questions?"( with the belief that your brain would fry on drugs). Instead of deterring any interest in drugs I think the wrong message was received by the youthful population. Many students joked and laughed about the commercial and soon there was the appearance of a "Brain on Drugs" T-shirt which most kids wore as a joke in spite of the real message which was not to use drugs. This is a perfect example of youth dismissing the information altogether just as the article states. It is said that experts believe that facts about alcohol and drugs alone usually stir curiosity in the child thus, prompting them to try the substance.
Drinking And Driving Among Young Adults
Summary
This section focuses
on drunk driving in the young adult population. "Drunk drivers between
21-34 years of age are responsible for more alcohol related crashes and
kill more people than any other age group." The article states that high
school educated , white males are at the highest risk for being drunk drivers.
In this age group it seems driving under the influence of alcohol is a
normative act. Although young adults believe that drunk driving is wrong
they tend to deny or accept the risks of drunk driving anyway. Young
adults feel that they gain rewards through driving drunk such as attention
from the opposite sex, fun and a cure from boredom.
Demonstrating the consequences
of drunk driving such as the negative emotional effects on loved one's
and physical trauma upon themselves could be used as a positive deterrent.
Positive messages of intervening with someone who is about to drive under
the influence of alcohol and praising the efforts of those who do
the preventing would also help to decrease the likelihood of drunk
driving. Experts believe positive messages such as these should be
placed in places where young adults congregate such as sports bars or night
clubs. Another area where positive images of responsible drinker's
may be conveyed would be at the work place; since so many young adults
feel their job's are of utmost importance.
My Reaction
I believe presenting the consequences of drunk driving before someone takes the opportunity to first drink and then jump into mobile drunk would definitely bring about positive effects of prevention. However; I don't think attempting to persuade a person not to drive when he/she is already intoxicated would have much of a successful rate in prevention. I have been to many parties throughout high school and college and in more situations than not I have seen the already intoxicated person planning to drive home usually become stubborn, obnoxious and offensive when asked to sleep off the boos or catch a ride home. Also, persuading someone of the physical and emotional damage they may cause themselves, loved ones or others, is often taken lightly or not at all because of the loss of inhibitions the person is experiencing while drunk. I do believe positive messages passed on before the driver is intoxicated (like at work or home) is the best way to go.
Deterring Methods That Don't Work
Scare tactics, experts
believe work the least for young adults simply ignore the threat emphasis.
Also, Public Service Announcements don't allow for long term effects of
positive messages to be transferred.
My Reaction
I agree that most scare tactics would not work in
the preventing drunk driving in young adults. However; requiring repeat
offenders to view graphic accidents of drunk driving collisions on film
may have an effect on deterring future offenses. I believe seeing
the gory scenes of such accidents would surely curb the future attempts
of at least some offenders.
Summary
The article states
that research shows majority of the chronic drinking drivers are white
males between the ages of 21-34 and most of them are alcoholics or substance
abusers. Because of the high rate of repeat offenders; much of the
preventive measures and dissuasive programs have had to change. It
is said that most DUI offenders go through rehabilitation and license suspension
with positive results of no repeat offenses. However; in the substance
abuser's case a simple license suspension and substance treatment
is not enough to convince the offender's to stop drinking and driving.
Deterring Methods That Work
Experts say the best
methods to deterring persistent drunk drivers are license revocation at
the time of arrest, treatment programs with license revocation, and
ignition interlock systems and/or home monitoring with counseling.
As stated in the report "An electronic monitoring program in Los Angeles
saved over $1 million in jail costs, and offenders who participated in
the program had lower recidivism rates than offenders who were sentenced
to jail". The article goes on to mention that if there is tampering found
with the device, offenders would be put on a home monitoring system.
The greatest attribute to this whole program is the allowance of the offender
to work while on this program which results in the payment of the device
and home monitoring system by the offender. No Tax monies spent on a repeat
offender's treatment.
My Reaction
Of all these methods I believe the ignition interlock/
home monitoring is the best. This method allows a breathalyzer to
be attached on the ignition system thus, if their is any trace of alcohol
on the driver's breathe, the vehicle is prevented from starting.
If you aren't clean you don't drive... I like that motto. The most appealing
aspect of this program is the allowance of the offender to continue working
which in turn keeps them paying for their own treatment. This is
an ingenious way of making the criminal literally "pay for the crime,"
no more wasted tax dollars on rehab programs.
Deterring Methods That Don't Work
Although license suspension
works for others; it is not a likely deterrent for alcoholics. Alcoholics,
once under the influence, lose inhibitions which in turn causes irrational
judgment (driving without a license). Treatment programs for alcoholic
dependents caught driving under the influence sometimes allow offender's
to retain their licenses. This is in part due to the long period
between arrest and revocation of the license.
My Reaction
I am really displeased with allowing a chronic
drunk driver to retain his license, after being arrested, for transportation
to and from the program. Unless of course the ignition interlock
system is installed on the automobile I think rehab programs should be
set up to either bus the offenders to and from the center or to create
more home monitoring/ignition interlock programs instead.
Use of Technology to Prevent Recidivism
Summary
"In 1994, 31% of the
1.5 million people arrested for DUI were repeat offenders." as mentioned
in this report. In this article much of the focus is on better means
of preventing repeat DUI offenders. Much of the past prevention and
treatment programs focused on jail time, license revocation, and rehabilitation.
Although those methods each had an impact on the determent of alcoholic
driver's; the prevention numbers were slim. Thus, there came a demand
for new ways of dealing with an old problem., ways that would be much more
effective for stopping the criminal act.
Deterring Methods That Work
According to the TSRA's
report ignition interlock systems and home monitoring devices are the answer
to drunk driving determent with the use of new technology. "An evaluation
of 13 localities that implemented ignition interlock devices as an alternative
sanction found that recidivism was significantly reduced while the offender's
car was equipped with the device. It should be noted, however, that
recidivism rates climb after the devices are removed." This statement
shows the positive effects of the ignition interlock system. Experts feel
that each DUI offender arrested should undergo testing to determine whether
he/she is a dependent of any substance thus, this would alert law enforcement
and treatment programs of a prospective repeat offender. This in
turn would be the deciding factor for which DUI offender's would need to
utilize the new technological programs. An option would also be to
issue chronic drunk driver's an ignition interlock device for a period
of up to a year or more. These positive methods of drunk driving
prevention could well be the norm for the future.
My Reaction
There should be an extension in the required time offenders are obligated to use the ignition interlock/home monitoring system. If recidivism does escalate after the device is removed; that alone should be the clue to extend the required time( a length of time specifically assigned for each offender) to more than a year or so. I also agree that testing for the abuse of other drugs in DUI offenders should be mandatory, and any other tests which would assist researchers and rehab program managers in more specifically determining the temptations for an individual to repeat offend.
Deterring Methods That Don't Work
In some counties offender's
are offered the choice of a ignition interlock system or license
suspension. With the elimination of such a choice, more of the roadway's
would be safer places to travel.
My Reaction
No choices. Asking a chronic drinking driver
if he/she would like home monitioring/ignition lock system or license suspension
is like asking a poor man if he would prefer 5 dollars or 1 million.
By enabling the offender to choose the license suspension it is very easy
for that person to operate their vehicle without a guilty conscious while
drunk. At least the ignition lock system would prevent such a person from
even starting the vehicle.
Summary
It seems treatment
effectiveness varies on the type of individual. If the offender is
a light alcohol user than past treatments of incarceration and license
suspension would work. However; these tactics have had little of
negative effects on chronic drinkers and binge drinkers.
Deterring Methods That Work
Experts say "a combined
intervention approach consisting of education, licensing sanctions, psychotherapy/counseling,
and follow-up supervision, such as regular contact with a probation officer
or aftercare, reduced recidivism and alcohol related crashes 7-9%."
They also believe that no set time of treatment should be imposed rather
the length it takes for the offender to produce positive results should
be the judge length of service. Some experts believe 1-2 years would be
a sufficient time allowance.
My Reaction
I feel another treatment that might work would be a judge appointing a repeated DUI offender to stand out on a busy intersection in downtown holding a poster stating "I am a repeat offender drunk driver." I believe here in Hawai'i many people would avoid embarrassment at any cost. Public humiliation may be another option law makers could propose.
Deterring Methods That Don't Work
License suspension
and jail time do not work for repeat offenders.
Summary
The odds of being
caught while under the influence of alcohol are extremely low. "It
is estimated that a person may drive drunk between 200 and 2000 times before
being apprehended." For this reason many individuals feel they will
never get caught. Thus, experts feel that DUI laws need to be stricken
so as to threaten those who continue to break the law.
Deterring Methods That Work
Along with methods
such as ignition interlock system, vehicle impoundment at the time of the
offense, and home monitoring many other alternatives are suggested by experts.
Limiting the availability of alcohol which would be done by surveying the
amount of people in a certain community is another way of dealing with
drinking drivers. Lowering the BAC to .08% and increasing the tax
on alcohol products are two other suggested methods of reducing DUI's through
legal sanctions.
My Reaction
I do not believe limiting the availability in a certain
heavy alcohol using community would deter drunk driving. In fact,
it would cause alcoholics to drive to farther locations while intoxicated
thus increasing the chances of more alcohol related accidents. I
do believe lowering the BAC level is a more logical approach and would
cause police officers to check for intoxicated drivers more diligently.
Deterring Methods That Don't Work
Some legal sanctified
methods which don't produce high deterrence in drinking drivers are treatment
centers which allow the convicted to withhold their license while in the
rehabilitation program and license revocation as a substitute to treatment
and counseling. Chronic drinking drivers feel that the consequences
of driving without a license are so minute that they will actually take
the chance of being apprehended multiple times.
My Reaction
Allowing a convicted drunk driver to operate any
vehicle while undergoing treatment is a no no. In my view that is
not a severe enough punishment for the crime.
Other Web Pages Related to DWI
DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)
This site is a complete
coverage of drunk driving facts and statistics. There is a compilation
of video resources and organizations which prevent drunk driving. This
site is ideal for students doing reports and who are in need of raw data
in terms of percentages and numbers. Also, there are sections which
expose the effects of alcohol on reflexes and the ability to operate automobiles.
While this site may be somewhat short in structure and content, the navigation
table at the bottom gives a complete listing of other sites to assist the
browser in searching for the specific topic of choice in the field of DUI
and others.
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
This efficient site offers links to more in depth coverage of drunk driving prevention aspects such as Madd discussion statistics, hot issues etc. This front page also consists of a news column which has the latest topics of the month listed. Although MADD was originally formed by mothers, the organization has blossomed to ranges of people of many ages and backgrounds. This site is a must for proponents of stronger drinking and driving regulations.
BADD (Businesses Against
Drunk Driving)
I was very amazed and
very pleased that a site such as this existed. I was not aware of
the businesses involvement in the curbing of drunk driving. It is so apparent
that many hardworking individuals from the business people to construction
workers, usually take part in the after ritual of having a few at the bar,
with co-workers to unwind after a hard day on the job. It is so important
for such an organization to play an active part in DUI deterrence. This
site offers links for the browser to discover the history/origin, to join
their crusade, to find out the latest news on drinking and driving and
much more. There is a list of businesses which are a part of the
move and they should be commended for their efforts. Many more companies
should seriously consider participating in a such positive movement.
A Comparison to Other Reports in my Generation
Compared to other reports of my fellow
classmates, my report is very similar in content due to the fact that the
instructions were limited to the summarization of this site alone.
Robert
Nakagawa and Nicole
Young have similar information in regards to summarization and also
web sites related to our DWI topic. For example, we all seem to have MADD
listed in our references. I like Robert's approach in keeping his
paper simple; many times people will drown their papers with too many images
or funky colors. On the other hand, Nicole's report shows perfect
use of imagery and color; not too many graphics and the color scheme of
blue, red and yellow really give her page a livened effect.
As a suggestion for
the next generation of students I would recommend working on sections of
the report at different times. By this I mean not staying up to 4 in the
morning the night before the report is due. It helps to find a little
research at a time and to work on completing that section before moving
on. Although it is not tremendously difficult to find information
on DWI, students may get the wrong impression that there will be tons of
information for the remaining reports due. This is not true.
The DWI report is one of the relatively easier of the reports being that
there is no section which requires reference to other articles through
ERIC and Uncover databases
(oops...did I blow it for the next generation, sorry). All in all
this report is not too difficult as you will find out and the research
has interesting topics such as ignition interlock systems, home monitoring
systems, and shocking facts of repeat offenders around the nation.