The behavioral impact of drinking and driving laws
All U.S. states have laws designed to discourage people from drinking and driving, but enforcement varies across the states. Existing studies offer conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of these strategies in deterring drinking-and-driving behavior. Deterrence theories imply that the mere existence of such laws has little impact on criminal behavior, but the perception of enforcement and the probability of being detected have a deterrent effect. To test these hypotheses, we develop a measure of the propensity to drink and drive using item response theory and national survey data. Inferential models test the impact of perceptions of enforcement, actual enforcement levels, and deterrence laws on criminal propensity. Results indicate that the existence of statutes impacts only those least likely to drink and drive, while perceptions of the likelihood of arrest and individual agreement with the goals of drinking and driving laws significantly reduce the propensity for almost everyone. Actual enforcement rates display no behavioral effect.
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [The Behavioral Impact of Drinking and Driving Laws. Policy Studies Journal 36, 4 p545-569 (2008)], which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0072.2008.00283.x. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions: https://authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/Journal-Authors/licensing/self-archiving.html#3.
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Work Title | The behavioral impact of drinking and driving laws |
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License | In Copyright (Rights Reserved) |
Work Type | Article |
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Publication Date | November 19, 2008 |
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Deposited | October 24, 2023 |
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