State of Knowledge of Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Research on Repeat DWI Offenders

Jones, R. K. (Ralph K.); Lacey, John H. · 2000 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report reviews scientific literature published since 1990 regarding drivers convicted of driving while impaired (DWI) more than once, commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The study addresses the role of repeat offenders in alcohol-related crashes, their demographic and behavioral characteristics, and the effectiveness of countermeasures designed to reduce recidivism. The review highlights a significant gap in national data, noting that while repeat offenders comprise a small percentage of all drivers, their involvement in fatal crashes is disproportionate. Data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) suggest that 2–3% of all fatal crashes involve drivers with prior DWI convictions, while California data indicate this figure may reach 8% for alcohol-related fatal crashes. The analysis of crash risk reveals complex patterns. In California, the relative risk of an alcohol-related crash increases nearly linearly with the number of prior DWI convictions, reaching over 1.6 for drivers with three or more priors. Conversely, the risk of crashes of all types (including non-alcohol-related) decreases with prior convictions, potentially because sober repeat offenders drive more cautiously or are license-suspended. Repeat offenders generally share characteristics with first offenders, though they are predominantly male (85–90%), white, and under age 50. They exhibit higher mean blood alcohol concentrations at arrest (approximately 0.18 compared to 0.16 for first offenders) and are more likely to be alcohol-dependent. Recidivism rates in California showed a downward trend from nearly 10% in 1989 to 7% in 1995. Regarding countermeasures, the review identifies alternative sanctions as particularly effective, with potential recidivism reductions ranging from 15% to 90%. License suspension or revocation combined with treatment also demonstrates efficacy, potentially reducing recidivism by up to 50%. The authors conclude that current literature lacks sufficient multivariate studies and data on the exposure of repeat offenders to traffic crashes. They recommend further research using state motor vehicle databases to identify high-risk groups, evaluations of legal countermeasures employing random assignment designs to confirm specific deterrence effects, and roadside surveys to better estimate the crash risk associated with prior DWI convictions.

Key finding

Repeat DWI offenders are overrepresented in fatal crashes with a relative risk of approximately 1.4 compared to drivers with no prior convictions, and alternative sanctions combined with treatment can reduce recidivism by 15% to 90%.

Methodology

review

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