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Report Details

Title:The 24/7 Sobriety Program's Effects on Impaired Drivers in North Dakota: 2008-2018
Authors:Andrew Kubas and Kimberly Vachal
Publication Date:Oct 2019
Report #:DP-304
TRID #:01722067
Keywords:before and after studies, crash rates, drunk drivers, drunk driving, recidivism, safety programs, traffic citations, trend (statistics)
Type:Research Report – Department Publications

 

Abstract

The 24/7 Sobriety Program is an intervention strategy mandating that impaired driving offenders remain sober as a condition of bond or pre-trial release. The goal is to monitor the most at-risk offenders in North Dakota and require that these individuals remain sober in order to keep roadways safe from hazardous drivers. As a component of the program, offenders are required to submit to twice-a-day blood alcohol concentration tests, ankle bracelet monitoring, drug patches, or urinalysis as a monitoring technique. If a program participant fails to remain sober, the individual is sent directly to jail. Enrollment lengths depend on one's prior impaired driving history. This project seeks to understand three areas: if before-and-after deterrent effects arise upon program enrollment; if longer enrollment lengths have stronger deterrent effects on program participants; and if some factors contribute to recidivism more than others. Results show that participants significantly improve crash and citation metrics after enrolling in the program. Longer sentencing periods have stronger deterrent effects on DUI-related citations. Individuals participating in the program for a second-or-subsequent time have higher odds of relapsing into impaired driving behavior. Additional treatment for these individuals may be appropriate as they likely represent the North Dakota driver population that has issues with alcohol abuse and self-control.

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How to Cite

Kubas, Andrew, and Kimberly Vachal. The 24/7 Sobriety Program’s Effects on Impaired Drivers, DP-304. North Dakota State University, Fargo: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, 2019.

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