The Perception of DWI Laws: A Study of the General Awareness and the Attitudes of Public and Official Groups towards the Drinking Driving Laws

Borkenstein, R. F.; Joiner, Jere T.; Klette, Hans G.; Picton, William G. · 1971 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This 1971 study, conducted by the Center for Studies of Law in Action at Indiana University for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, investigates public and official awareness of and attitudes toward Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) laws. The research was motivated by the observation that while DWI laws are defined by specific numerical blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits, most individuals lack a clear understanding of what these numbers mean in practical terms. This ignorance was hypothesized to create irrational fear of the law among moderate drinkers and false security among excessive drinkers, thereby undermining effective social control and enforcement. The study comprised two phases: a survey and an experiment. The survey involved 896 participants divided into public groups (students aged 18–24 and service club members aged 25–64) and official groups (police officers, justices of the peace, lawyers, and state legislators). Questionnaires assessed their knowledge of DWI definitions, penalties, and the amount of alcohol required to reach legal limits. The experiment tested the efficacy of three educational treatments—lectures, pamphlets, and breath tests—in improving awareness and attitudes. Subjects were pre-tested and post-tested, with some groups also exposed to a film or fact sheet. Survey results revealed that approximately half of the public respondents were unaware of the legal definition of DWI, and awareness of penalties was even lower. Both public and official groups drastically underestimated the amount of alcohol needed to reach the .10% BAC legal limit and believed they would be unfit to drive at levels far below that threshold. Consequently, most respondents felt DWI laws were enforced too leniently, viewing themselves as potential violators rather than distinct from the "out group" of offenders. Experimental findings indicated that lectures and pamphlets were most effective for increasing basic awareness of legal definitions and penalties, particularly among students. However, breath testing proved superior for changing attitudes toward safe drinking limits and fostering social responsibility, especially among students, attorneys, and service club members. Notably, breath testing failed to produce positive attitude changes in police officers, who instead shifted toward believing higher BAC levels were acceptable for driving. The authors concluded that a combined, long-term educational approach involving lectures, films, and breath testing is necessary to educate the public on BAC concepts and secure acceptance of DWI enforcement.

Key finding

Breath testing was the most effective intervention for changing attitudes toward drinking and driving among students and attorneys, whereas lectures and pamphlets were more effective for increasing factual awareness of DWI laws.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 896

Provenance

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Topics

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• dui enforcement
• drowsy as impairment