mzal@pegasus.UUCP (Mike Zaleski) (07/26/84)
For those interested in the matter of drinking and driving, I suggest taking a look at: "And One More For The Road", in the February 1983 issue of Road&Track. (Before flaming about the source, check the references in the article first.) For those who don't have time, a few interesting points which will add more fuel to the fires on net.auto: - Chicago tried a crackdown on drunk drivers in late 1970. It was quietly dumped 6 months later when it was found that the program was a failure, inasmuch as Milwaukee had a greater drop during the same period with no crackdown. Chicago showed a minute drop in accidents. - When Phoenix tried a one day jail sentence, they found more jury trials and more acquitals. - This article claims (citing another report) that the low number of accidents attributed to drunk driving is a result of a general decline in accidents which started in the early 50s, not a result of the strict laws. In addition, they claim (but cite no reference) that the number of drunk accident victims on police blotters is rather less than the number who show up at hospitals, according to hospital blood test records. - Revoking licenses is meaningless: A study in California "showed that over a six year period, 46 percent [of those who lost their licenses] were arrested or had accidents during their suspension. The average number of incidents was 3.16 per driver - with one male having 21 such incidents..." Some food for thought from -- Mike^Z Zaleski@Rutgers, allegra!pegasus!mzal