Recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: A qualitative analysis
Aim: This paper presents qualitative data from an in-depth interview study of 40 repeat drink drivers in Perth Western Australia to inform countermeasures for these high risk offenders. Background: Licence sanctions are effective countermeasures for most drink drivers but the small group of repeat o...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Elsevier Science
2009
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41644 |
| _version_ | 1848756202708664320 |
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| author | Lenton, Simon Fetherston, James Cercarelli, Rina |
| author_facet | Lenton, Simon Fetherston, James Cercarelli, Rina |
| author_sort | Lenton, Simon |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Aim: This paper presents qualitative data from an in-depth interview study of 40 repeat drink drivers in Perth Western Australia to inform countermeasures for these high risk offenders. Background: Licence sanctions are effective countermeasures for most drink drivers but the small group of repeat offenders are less responsive. Many choose to drive while unlicensed as the probability of detection is low and the social and economic costs of not driving can be high. This undermines other drink drive countermeasures.Results: Most respondents who had had their licence suspended admitted to driving while under suspension. Employment and social factors were key themes emerging in respondents accounts of driving while under licence suspension. Conclusions: While a range of enforcement countermeasures are needed to deter drunk and unlicensed driving, this study suggests that where possible we aim to keep offenders within the system that consists of formal laws and informal social controls, rather than apply penalties in ways that undermine adherence to the law by increasing unlicensed driving. Allowing for interlock installation early in the driving suspension period, and allowing fines to offset cost of interlock installation and monitoring, may maximise community benefit and reduce unlicensed driving. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:08:27Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-41644 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:08:27Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | Elsevier Science |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-416442017-09-13T16:05:51Z Recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: A qualitative analysis Lenton, Simon Fetherston, James Cercarelli, Rina Alcohol DWI Recidivist DWS DUI Repeat Interlock Aim: This paper presents qualitative data from an in-depth interview study of 40 repeat drink drivers in Perth Western Australia to inform countermeasures for these high risk offenders. Background: Licence sanctions are effective countermeasures for most drink drivers but the small group of repeat offenders are less responsive. Many choose to drive while unlicensed as the probability of detection is low and the social and economic costs of not driving can be high. This undermines other drink drive countermeasures.Results: Most respondents who had had their licence suspended admitted to driving while under suspension. Employment and social factors were key themes emerging in respondents accounts of driving while under licence suspension. Conclusions: While a range of enforcement countermeasures are needed to deter drunk and unlicensed driving, this study suggests that where possible we aim to keep offenders within the system that consists of formal laws and informal social controls, rather than apply penalties in ways that undermine adherence to the law by increasing unlicensed driving. Allowing for interlock installation early in the driving suspension period, and allowing fines to offset cost of interlock installation and monitoring, may maximise community benefit and reduce unlicensed driving. 2009 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41644 10.1016/j.aap.2009.10.010 Elsevier Science fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Alcohol DWI Recidivist DWS DUI Repeat Interlock Lenton, Simon Fetherston, James Cercarelli, Rina Recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: A qualitative analysis |
| title | Recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: A qualitative analysis |
| title_full | Recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: A qualitative analysis |
| title_fullStr | Recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: A qualitative analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: A qualitative analysis |
| title_short | Recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: A qualitative analysis |
| title_sort | recidivist drink drivers self reported reasons for driving whilst unlicensed: a qualitative analysis |
| topic | Alcohol DWI Recidivist DWS DUI Repeat Interlock |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41644 |