Lesser Crimes & Offenses - Driving Under The Influence

The number of drunk driving arrests fell 17.6% from 1986 to 1997. The rate of arrests per 100,000 people fell 28% over the same period: arrests were down, drivers had increased.

Several thoughts come to mind when looking at such results. One thinks about MADD, for instance. In 1980, Candy Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving after a drunk driver killed her daughter. She became an activist and set out to educate the public on alcohol behind the wheel. Similar organizations, such as Students Against Drunk Driving, soon followed. We were told to have designated drivers when going out to party — and that "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk." One of MADD's greatest triumphs was getting the drinking age raised to 21 in 1994, a factor that certainly helped to keep alcohol out of the hands of young people and in the process saved lives.

Those most likely to drink and drive are in their twenties, an age-group that has seen demographic contraction. Those in their 20s were 41.9 million of the population in 1987 and 36.3 million in 1997. Hard liquor consumption has declined per capita in this period, which may have had an influence as well. And though such a speculation is not a positive, alcohol has had some competition from other drugs of choice, like marijuana.

The table below examines DUI arrest rates by age. In 1986, those 21 to 24 years had the highest rate of arrests, 2,384 per 100,000 people. Those 19-20 had a rate of 2,006 and those 25-29 had a rate of 1,924. As drivers, they were over-represented in arrests. Those 21-24 were 9.3% of drivers, but they were 19.7% of arrests. Those 25-29 were 12.9% of drivers and 22% of all arrests. In 1997, rates dropped among all age groups. However, the basic trend in 1986 remained true. Drivers in their twenties and thirties made up the lion's share of arrests. These arrests were out of proportion to their age group. Those 45 years of age and older represented a smaller portion of arrests, particularly in comparison to their share of drivers: those 45-49 were 9.7% of drivers and 7.4% of arrests, those 65 and older were 14.3% drivers and 1.4% of DUI arrests.

Licensed Drivers and DUI Arrests by Age Group, 1986 and 1997

Age	1986					1997
		% of Drivers	% of Arrests	Arrests per 100,000	% of Drivers	% of Arrests	Arrests per 100,000
Total	100	100	1,124	100	100	809
16-18	4.3	3.8	990	3.7	3.2	696
19-20	3.8	6.8	2,006	3.2	5.3	1,353
21-24	9.3	19.7	2,384	6.7	14.1	1,695
25-29	12.9	22.0	1,924	10.0	16.9	1,372
30-34	12.3	15.8	1,445	10.8	16.3	1,227
35-39	11.1	11.1	1,122	11.5	15.8	1,105
40-44	7.2	7.2	921	11.0	11.5	849
45-49	4.9	4.9	783	9.7	7.4	620
50-54	3.4	3.4	613	8.0	4.3	438
55-59	2.4	2.4	446	6.1	2.3	309
60-64	1.5	1.5	299	5.0	1.3	213
65 and over	1.2	1.2	114	14.3	1.4	78

In 1997, an estimated 513,200 offenders were on probation or in jail or prison for driving while intoxicated: 454,000 on probation, 41,100 in jail, and 17,600 in State prison. DWI offenders presented 14% of probationers, 7% of jail inmates, and 2% of State prisoners. Who are these people? 94.2% were men (up from 83% just in 1995). Half were in their thirties, with the average age between 36 and 38. 68% were White, 17.3% were Hispanic, and 9.8% were Blacks. They were better educated than other offenders. 37% of DWI offenders on probation, 18% of those in jail and 16% of those in prison had some college. 40% have never been married, while 15.4% were married (the rest were divorced, widowed or separated).

Down-trending rates of DUI are nice to see, but we may just be seeing a part of a wave-like cycle, caught in the trough, rather than permanent "progress." Alcohol has been with us for a long time, and these rates may turn up again.

Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics, DWI Offenders Under Correctional Supervision, June 1999. Population figures from the U.S. Bureau of the Census.