Publication Details


An assessment of the limited driving license amendment to the North Carolina statutes relating to drunk driving

Type: Paper

Author(s): Johns, Themis R.; Pascarella, Edward A.

Pages: 25

Publisher: Highway Safety Research Center

Url: https://trid.trb.org/view/112412

Publication Date: Apr-1971

Address: Chapel Hill, NC

Abstract: The present study seeks to evaluate a recent change in the North Carolina law relating to persons convicted of a first offense of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor (DUI). This change provides the court with the option of granting some of these individuals a limited driving privilege, whenever a need to drive is indicated, in lieu of the mandatory revocation of their license. This alternative penalty was expected to result in (1) a change in the proportion of DUI convictions and in DUI charges amended to Reckless Driving and (2) a reduction in the limited privilege recipients' accident and violation rates. Examination of the courts' disposition of DUI cases for periods before and after the law became effective revealed an increase of 18.5 percent in DUI convictions and a decrease of 33.8 percent in amended charges. The driving record of the limited driving recipients, for the year following their conviction, was compared with that of a random sample of drivers. It was found that the recipients' violation rate per 100 drivers (4.6) was significantly lower than that of drivers selected at random (12.9). Their accident rate (.8) was not significantly different from that of the random sample (7.5). In view of these findings it would appear that (1) the courts are following the intent of the law to a measureable degree and (2) the limited driving recipients are responding positively to the special consideration being given them.