Drunk Driving Warning System (DDWS). Volume 2, Field Test Evaluation

Allen, R. Wade; Stein, Anthony C.; Summers, Leland G.; Cook, M. L. · 1983 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report evaluates the feasibility of the Drunk Driving Warning System (DDWS), a vehicle-mounted device designed to detect driver impairment and deter intoxicated driving among convicted DWI offenders. The system utilizes a Critical Tracking Task (CTT), a steering competency test that drivers must pass to deactivate alarms, including emergency flashers and a periodic horn. The research aimed to validate the device’s sensitivity to alcohol impairment in an operational setting and assess the practicality of implementing the DDWS as a judicial sanction within municipal court systems. The study involved a field test conducted in California, supported by enabling legislation that allowed judges in the West Los Angeles and Compton Municipal Courts to assign the DDWS to second-time DWI offenders. Eleven vehicles were instrumented with the CTT/DDWS system, and seventeen subjects completed the program after rigorous screening and training. The experimental design included monitoring driving patterns, test performance, and equipment reliability over time. Data collection relied on computer event logs and trip records, while legal and administrative cooperation was secured through state agencies and court personnel to ensure proper subject selection and probationary monitoring. Results indicated that the DDWS effectively detected driver impairment in a field setting. Nighttime test failure rates were three to seven times higher than daytime rates, consistent with laboratory findings regarding alcohol impairment. The system maintained good discriminability, with failure rates correlating with estimated blood alcohol concentrations. Notably, test failures significantly deterred intoxicated trips; only three subjects drove with alarms activated, and only one was confirmed to have driven while impaired, typically at low speeds. The equipment proved reliable after initial mechanical and electrical issues were resolved, and preventive measures successfully prevented tampering. The study concluded that implementing the DDWS through court systems is feasible, provided there is sufficient cooperation between state and local agencies. Subjects generally viewed the DDWS as a desirable and effective sanction, preferring it over fines, license restrictions, or jail. Public and media acceptance was largely positive. The findings support the use of in-vehicle performance tests as a viable countermeasure for drunk driving, offering a practical alternative sentencing option that effectively monitors and deters impaired driving behavior.

Key finding

The DDWS effectively detected driver impairment with test failure rates of 35% at 0.10% BAC and 80% at 0.15% BAC, and test failure significantly deterred impaired driving trips.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 17

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• dui enforcement
• dms validation
• alcohol detection systems
• drowsy as impairment

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics, tool software