The purpose of the study was to determine whether convicted DWI (driving while intoxicated) offenders arrested following a crash differed in sociodemographic variables or drinking locations from those arrested for other reasons. The study population included 3,650 clients who completed a structured personal interview. Twelve percent of these offenders were involved in crashes. About half of the clients (51 percent) reported having been drinking in a bar. Drinking locations for this subset were clustered in several discrete areas of the city, and arrest locations clustered in approximately the same areas. Among those who drove greater than 0 miles, miles driven ranged from 0 to 19.2, with a mean of 2.6 miles. a mean of 2.6 miles. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios for driving impaired greater than 0 miles, and for crash involvement. Analysis of variance revealed that among those who drove greater than 0 miles, those with BACs of greater than or equal to .20 percent, those arrested from 6 am to 12 midnight and persons drinking at bars and restaurants drove fewer miles. The only variable that was statistically associated with having driven 0 miles was being Native American. Crash involvement was associated with higher BACs, driving vehicles greater than 10 years old, client felt intoxicated, driving between 6 am and 12 midnight, and being arrested in the southeast and southwest quadrants of the city. (A)
Abstract