Deterrent Effects of Mandatory License Suspension for DWI Conviction

Blomberg, Richard D.; Preusser, David F.; Ulmer, Robert G. · 1987 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This 1987 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates the deterrent effects of Wisconsin’s 1982 law mandating license suspension for first-time Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) convictions. The study addresses two distinct forms of deterrence: specific deterrence, which aims to prevent recidivism among convicted drivers, and general deterrence, which seeks to discourage the broader driving public from engaging in drinking and driving. The research was motivated by the observation that while license suspension is a common sanction, it was rarely applied consistently in other states, limiting its potential deterrent value. Wisconsin provided a unique case study because it transitioned from suspending only 45% of first-time offenders in 1981 to 100% suspension following the May 1982 legislative change. The methodology employed a mixed-design approach. Specific deterrence was assessed statewide by comparing recidivism rates between drivers convicted under the old law (May 1980–April 1981) and those convicted under the new mandatory suspension law (May 1982–April 1983). General deterrence was evaluated using two methods: a time-series analysis of statewide alcohol-related crash data from 1977 to 1985, and a localized intervention in Milwaukee. In Milwaukee, researchers launched an intensive public information campaign in 1985 to increase awareness of the mandatory suspension, using monthly driver surveys to measure changes in public knowledge and perception. Green Bay served as a control city where no such campaign occurred. The findings demonstrated significant deterrent effects for both specific and general deterrence. Statewide time-series analysis revealed a substantial reduction in alcohol-related crashes—defined as single-vehicle, night-time, weekend accidents involving male drivers—beginning in 1982. The average number of these crashes decreased by approximately 25% following the adoption of the new law. Regarding specific deterrence, drivers convicted under the mandatory suspension law showed a marked drop in recidivism rates compared to those convicted under the previous discretionary system. This reduction was most pronounced in the first three to six months post-conviction and extended to reductions in injury crashes and other moving violations. In Milwaukee, the public information campaign successfully increased driver awareness of the mandatory suspension from roughly 50% to over 80% within six months. Consequently, drivers’ perception that all offenders lost their licenses tripled, whereas no such change occurred in the control city of Green Bay. The study concludes that 100% mandatory license suspension is an effective legal sanction for reducing both repeat offenses and general drinking and driving behavior. The results suggest that the certainty of the penalty is a critical factor in its deterrent power. Furthermore, the Milwaukee data indicates that the impact of such sanctions on the general public can be significantly enhanced through well-organized publicity campaigns that ensure high awareness of the law’s mandatory nature. This research supports the implementation of consistent, non-discretionary license suspensions as a key strategy in highway safety efforts.

Key finding

Mandatory license suspension for first-time DWI convictions resulted in a statewide reduction in alcohol-related crashes and a substantial decrease in recidivism rates among convicted drivers.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Provenance

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Topics

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• dui enforcement
• driver education effectiveness
• drowsy as impairment

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation, policy recommendations