CALIFORNIA DUI LAW: ONE YEAR IMPLEMENTATION

The results are reported of a study to assess the impact of the new driving under the influence (DUI) law (1982) on problem driving behavior in Canada. Problem driving is reflected by rates of arrest for driving under the influence, drunk driving conviction, and alcohol-related traffic accidents. A quasi-experimental pre-post multiple variable design was employed. The design allowed for before and after comparisons for each variable. Statistical analyses were conducted comparing problem driving behavior data from 1981 with similar data from 1982. Person correlation analysis was employed to investigate relationships among variables expressing changes in problem driving behavior. Tables are used to compare 1981 and 1982 data. The results of the study support the hypothesis that drinking driving behavior improved consequent to implementation of the DUI law. Alcohol-involved accidents were significantly lower in 1982. Also, drunk driving convictions were significantly higher in 1982 than in 1981. The enforcement of the DUI law had an impact on the Municipal Court System. A study of the Los Angeles Municipal Courts indicates that group C misdemeanor filings in the County driving 1982 were 1.8% greater than in 1981. Jury trials for group C misdemeanor cases increased by 24% in 1982.

• Corporate Authors:

  UCLA Alcohol Research Center

  Neuropsychiatric Institute, 760 Westwood Plaza
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90024
• Authors:
  • Beshai, N
• Publication Date: 1984-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 11-19
• Serial:
  • Abstracts & Reviews in Alcohol & Driving
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: UCLA Alcohol Research Center

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcoholic beverages; Before and after studies; Behavior; Courts; Drivers; Drunk driving; Laws; Problem drivers; Statistical analysis; Traffic conviction; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Convictions
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Law; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450146
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 358
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM