NCJ Number
101443
Date Published
1986
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A discussion of the November 1983 report of the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving focuses on its systems approach that uses the general deterrence model and on its specific recommendations.
Abstract
After 18 months of research and hearings, the Commission concluded that the only long-term remedy for the drunk driving problem is community prevention. In this approach, the public begins to prevent drunk driving in their immediate social circles, and the drinking-and-driving combination develops into taboo behavior. Certain legal sanctions and control systems should be in place as a basis for community prevention. These include mandated prompt treatment, community awareness efforts, specialized enforcement and prosecution units to deal with the problem, licensing sanctions, determinate sentencing, chemical testing with license suspension for those with blood alcohol at or above .10 percent, and age 21 as the minimum purchase age. The report fails to relate the repeated problem drinker directly to the disease of alcoholism. It also avoids looking at drunk drivers' alcoholism as symptomatic of the Nation's problem with drugs and alcohol. Summary of major recommendations from the Commission, 1 note, 4 references.