THE PERCEPTION OF DWI LAWS: A STUDY OF THE GENERAL AWARENESS AND THE ATTITUDES OF PUBLIC AND OFFICIAL GROUPS TOWARDS THE DRINKING DRIVING LAWS. FINAL REPORT

A SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED OF THE PERCEPTION OF LAWS DEALING WITH DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL BY SELECTED PUBLIC AND OFFICIAL GROUPS, AND THE BEST MEANS OF INCREASING THEIR AWARENESS OF DWI LAWS AND OF IMPROVING THEIR ATTITUDES WERE STUDIED. THE SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY MEANS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE. MOST OF THE QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON THE SUBJECTS' AWARENESS OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE DRINKING DRIVING SITUATION AND THE LAWS GOVERNING IT. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE PUBLIC GROUP WERE UNAWARE OF THE DEFINITION OF THE DRINKING DRIVING LAWS. AWARENESS OF PENALTIES WAS EVEN LOWER. ALL GROUPS, PUBLIC AND OFFICIAL, SHOWED A MINIMAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ACTUAL DRINKING DRIVING SITUATION AS IT WOULD RELATE TO THE LEGAL DEFINITION. THE EXPERIMENT, DESIGNED TO IMPROVE AWARENESS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THESE LAWS AND THE SITUATION OF DRINKING DRIVING, EXPOSED THE PUBLIC AND OFFICIAL GROUPS TO ONE OF THREE EDUCATIONAL TREATMENTS: A LECTURE, A PAMPHLET, OR A BREATH TEST. A COMBINATION OF THE TREATMENTS USED IN THIS EXPERIMENT SPREAD OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME COULD SUCCEED IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC TO THE CONCEPT OF BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION AND TO THE ATTENDANT DRINKING DRIVING BEHAVIORAL FACTORS. /AUTHOR/

  • Corporate Authors:

    Indiana University, Bloomington

    Center for Studies of Law In Action
    Bloomington, IN  United States  47405
  • Authors:
    • BORKENSTEIN, R F
    • Joiner, J T
    • Klette, H G
    • Picton, W G
  • Publication Date: 1971-11

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 219 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00224169
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Apr 17 1973 12:00AM