Effects of all-offender alcohol ignition interlock laws on recidivism and alcohol-related crashes

This paper examines effects on recidivism and alcohol-impaired crashes of Washington State’s ignition interlock laws, including a 2004 extension of the interlock requirement to all first DUI convictions and a 2009 law allowing interlocks in lieu of administrative license suspension; examines multi-state effects of interlock laws on alcohol-related fatal crashes. Washington trends in conviction types and interlock installations for first DUI convictions were examined. Linear regressions examined recidivism rates with either law changes or interlock installation rates as predictors and all DUI arrests to control for enforcement variation. To examine general deterrence effects, times series cross-section regression was used to compare Washington single-vehicle late-night crash trends to California and Oregon trends and to examine effects of states’ interlock laws on alcohol-related fatal crash trends. After Washington’s 2004 law change, the interlock installation rate among affected offenders was about one-third compared to about 3-6 per cent in the prior year. The 2-year recidivism rate declined 12 per cent among affected offenders; a 0.06 percentage point decrease in recidivism was associated with each percentage point increase in the interlock use rate. The law change was associated with an 8 per cent reduction in single-vehicle late-night crash risk. The 2009 law change appears to be having the desired effect of increasing interlock installations and ensuring they occur more quickly after arrest. Multi-state analysis of alcohol-related fatal crashes is underway. Washington’s first-offender interlock laws were associated with reduced recidivism, even with low interlock use rates, and crash reductions. Additional gains may be achieved with higher interlock use rates, limiting reductions in DUI charges to other traffic offenses, and publicizing interlock laws.

• Record URL:
  http://www.icadtsinternational.com/files/documents/2013_086.pdf
• 
• Authors:
  • McCartt, A T
  • Eichelberger, A H
  • Leaf, W A
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (T2013), 20th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 526-31
• Monograph Title: 20th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety Conference Proceedings, 25-28 August 2013, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol ignition interlock devices; Crash rates; Crashes; Drivers; Drunk driving; Evaluation; Intoxication; Law enforcement; Legislation; Recidivists
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Washington (State)
• ATRI Terms: Crash rate; Drink driving; Evaluation; Ignition interlock; Law enforcement; Legislation; Recidivist
• ITRD Terms: 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01500773
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 5 2013 8:47AM