Citation

Whitehead PC. J. Saf. Res. 1975; 7(3): 127-134.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There is widespread agreement that drinking drivers constitute a serious problem, but less agreement on the best means for dealing with them. Countermeasures generally fall into the categories of general deterrence (e.g., mandatory breath tests) or specific deterrence (educational programs for convicted DWI drivers). Phoenix programs, which employ the latter approach to prevent recidivism, are currently in vogue. One problem with these programs is that they deal with the "typical drunk driver," who is not necessarily representative of all drinking drivers. Rather, those arrested for DWI may be caught, because there are greater numbers of police in the areas where they live and do their drinking. Further, programs designed to prevent recidivism may not be effective because of the low probability of being arrested for DWI. Potentially, the best programs are those that combine low legal BACs with vigorous and uniform enforcement.