Citation

Fell JC, Lacey JH. J. Transp. Saf. Secur. 2011; 3(2): 123-140.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Southeastern Transportation Center, and Beijing Jiaotong University, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/19439962.2011.552751

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The proportion of drivers involved in fatal crashes whose blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeded the illegal limit in Maryland has increased from 16% in 1994 to 20% in 2007. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI) laws and their enforcement play a critical role in a state's strategy to reduce this problem. According to government and legal sources, Maryland has 24 of the 41 DUI laws recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Mothers Against Drunk Driving but lacks 17 of them. Past research has shown associations between the adoption of key DUI laws and reductions in drinking-driver fatal crashes. The National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances model DUI law and the current Maryland code differ in the penalties for DUI. According to surveys of drivers, only a small portion of drivers was aware of Maryland's 45-day administrative license revocation law (17%). Recommendations include increasing DUI fine levels, extending Maryland's alcohol ignition interlock sanction to all convicted offenders, and lowering the illegal BAC limit for drivers from .08 g/dL to .05 g/dL.