AN EVALUATION OF THE ALCOHOL REEXAMINATION PROGRAM FOR DRIVERS WITH TWO MAJOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a reexamination for drivers who had accumulated two "major violations" in a three year period, but who were not otherwise treated by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Major violations comprise the most serious violations, including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and reckless driving violations. Because major violations often involve alcohol even when the conviction is for a nonDUI offense, the reexamination was designed to evaluate the role of alcohol and to deter subsequent impaired driving through the diagnostic reexamination process and the imposition of license controls. Based on the sample estimate of accidents prevented, the reexamination was projected to be cost-beneficial. Comparisons of drivers receiving various actions suggest that license suspension would be a more effective countermeasure. Those major convictions without evidence of alcohol involvement were associated with as high an accident risk level as those with evidence of alcohol involvement. This equivalence of risk levels is an argument for a blanket countermeasure program rather than for countermeasures tailored on the basis of a diagnosis of alcohol involvement.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • A lengthier version of this paper was published as a California Department of Motor Vehicles monograph (CAL-DMS-RSS-82-83), TRIS 380703,HS-035 318, September 1982. The research was partially supported by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
• Corporate Authors:

  UCLA Alcohol Research Center

  Neuropsychiatric Institute, 760 Westwood Plaza
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90024
• Authors:
  • Kadell, D J
  • Peck, R C
• Publication Date: 1984-4

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 3-12
• Serial:
  • Abstracts & Reviews in Alcohol & Driving
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: UCLA Alcohol Research Center

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Benefit cost analysis; Countermeasures; Crash risk forecasting; Driver licenses; Driving; Driving tests; Drunk driving; Measures of effectiveness; Probation; Reckless drivers; Risk assessment; Suspensions; Traffic conviction; Traffic violators
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver license suspension; Effectiveness; Violations
• Old TRIS Terms: Reexamination
• Subject Areas: Law; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00395979
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 184
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1985 12:00AM