State of Knowledge: Female Drunk Drivers. Robyn Robertson President and CEO Traffic Injury Research Foundation

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1 State of Knowledge: Female Drunk Drivers Robyn Robertson President and CEO Traffic Injury Research Foundation Governors Highway Safety Association Baltimore, MD, August 28 th, 2012

2 Overview > Explanations of growing involvement of females in drunk driving. > Magnitude of female drinking and drunk driver problem. > Profile of female drunk drivers. > Involvement of alcohol positive female drivers in fatal crashes. > DWI interventions. > Future program considerations. 2

3 Background > Drunk driving has predominantly been a malebased problem. > Research has repeatedly shown that the vast majority of DWI offenders are male; men account for a disproportionate share of the drunk driver population. > Female involvement in drunk driving has been much less pronounced. > However, their involvement in DWI has been a source of growing concern since the late 1980s. 3

4 Explanations > There are three main explanations that have been posited to explain growing female involvement in drunk driving:» Changes in social roles;» Changes in social norms; and,» Changes in socio-legal climate, mechanisms of social control, and social control policies. > Literature review has some important challenges and caveats. 4

5 Magnitude of problem Self-report data > 1980 to 2000 (Schwartz and Rookey 2008)» Self-reported drinking and driving averaged about 23%. > 2001 (Royal 2003)» 13% drove within 2 hours of drinking in past year. > 2005 (National Survey on Drug Use and Health)» 11.4% DUI of alcohol or drugs in past year. > 2008 (Drew et al. 2010)» 14% drove within 2 hours of drinking in past year. 5

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7 Magnitude of problem Arrest data > DWI largest category of alcohol-related crimes to bring women into justice system (Parks et al. 1996). > 1976 to 1984 the rate of DWI arrests increased from 6.5% to 11.5% (Popkin et al. 1988). > 1996 to 2004 DWI arrests rose from 15% to 20% (Schwartz and Rookey 2008). > 1997 to 2007 there was a 28.8% increase in number of DWI arrests (McKay 2010). > Account for 24% in major age categories; almost 72,000 females aged arrested annually. 7

8 Magnitude of problem Roadside survey and conviction data > Females with BAC of.10 or higher decreased from 1.5% in 1996 to 1% on roadside in 2007 (Lacey et al. 2009). > Number of women convicted of DWI has increased during the past 20 years (Robertson et al. 2011). > Those in jail for DWI increased from 5% in 1983 to 7% in 1996 (Maruschak 1999). > Between , females convicted of DWI in Mississippi increased from 13-19% (Snow 1996). 8

9 Magnitude of problem FARS alcohol crash data > Female legally drunk drivers in fatal crashes» 12% in the 1980s» 13% in the 1990s» 14% in the 2000s (Schwartz and Rookey 2008)» 16% nationally (TIRF 2011) > Approximately 1,837 female alcohol impaired drivers in fatal crashes in 2008 (NHTSA 2009). > Small increases in minority of states between 2007 and 2008 (OH, NH, MT, NV, WY, WV, IN, WA, KS, TN). 9

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11 Female drunk driver profile > Alcohol misuse» Women become intoxicated after drinking half as much alcohol compared to men.» Only about ¼ as much alcohol is metabolized in stomach and intestines.» Less water in body and lower body mass.» More rapid progression of alcohol dependence.» Require medical intervention an average of 4 yrs earlier than males who are problem drinkers (Gudrais 2011). 11

12 Female drunk driver profile > Alcohol misuse» 85%-90% of females and males arrested for DWI suffer from substance abuse (either alcohol and/or drugs) (BHRCS 2007).» 85% of women (91% of men) arrested for DWI are diagnosed with alcohol abuse or dependence (Lapham et al. 2000). > Family history» Women more often than men report drinking to help sort out family and personal issues.» History of family substance misuse, DWI offenses, physical/sexual abuse. 12

13 Female drunk driver profile > Age» Rate of involvement declines with age (Peck et al. 2008).» Older research shows average age of arrest is 31 for first offenders; 30 for recidivists (Shore and McCoy 1987).» Increased alcohol, risky driving among younger females a concern (Lynsky et al. 2007; Tsai et al. 2010).» Age of onset of drinking a factor (Hingson et al. 2003). > Socio-economic status» Mixed results regarding education and employment.» More likely to be divorced or single or living with a partner with an alcohol problem. 13

14 Female drunk driver profile > Concurrent disorders» Among offenders with alcohol use disorders, 50% of females (vs. 33% of males) had a psychiatric diagnosis (Lapham et al. 2000).» Female offenders have much higher psychiatric morbidity vs. male counterparts (Laplante et al. 2008).» Higher degrees of addiction severity, co-occurring mood disorders, drug use (Maxwell and Freeman 2007). > DWI recidivism» Smaller number of females recidivate vs. males.» Research on recidivism risk mixed; recently shown same as males after 1 st conviction (Rauch et al. 2010). 14

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16 Fatal crash characteristics > Profile of female alcohol positive drivers in fatal crashes compared to sober females:» More likely involved in single vehicle crash (61% vs. 29%).» More often aged (41% vs. 26%).» Wore seatbelts less often (48% vs. 80%).» Almost 5xs as likely to be considered by police to be using drugs (48% vs. 10%).» Almost 2xs as likely to test positive for drugs.» Considered to have been speeding (25% vs. 9%). 16

17 Fatal crash characteristics > Profile of female alcohol positive drivers in fatal crashes compared to sober females:» To not have valid license at time of crash (17% vs. 6%).» More often have previous speeding convictions (21% vs. 14%). > Alcohol positive males were more likely considered to be using drugs, to be speeding, to be unlicensed, more often had previous other convictions and license suspensions compared to alcohol positive female drivers. 17

18 DWI interventions > Female participation in DWI programs is not insignificant:» In 1997 there were 79,000 female DWI offenders on probation; 2,900 females in jail and 1,000 females in state prison.» In Georgia, 17% of DWI court participants are female (Fell et al. 2011).» 20% of alcohol monitoring participants are female.» 20-25% of interlock program participants are female based on handful of states. 18

19 DWI interventions > DWI programs should consider the following:» Women develop substance abuse problems when they are older; develop them faster than men (Green 2006).» Women with substance use disorders are less likely to enter treatment compared to males (Greenfield et al. 2007). > Much is known about general treatment programs for women; but not about effective strategies for female DWI offenders. > Programs to address needs of sub-groups may be most beneficial. 19

20 Future program considerations > Providing childcare and family services including transportation can enhance access. > Women-only programs are perceived more positively; outcomes may not differ. > Residential treatment has shown a more positive impact compared to outpatient care. > Individual counseling related to better outcomes. 20

21 Conclusions > Some data available; research is lacking/outdated. > Self-report data stable, small increases in alcohol crashes; larger increases in DWI arrests. > Female DWI offenders do have some different characteristics from male DWI offenders > Females are a not insignificant proportion of drunk driving interventions. > Different profile of female DWI offenders may have implications for effectiveness of interventions. > Issue warrants monitoring and study to inform the development of effective interventions tailored for this population. 21

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T r a f f i c i n j u r y r e s e a r c h f o u n d a T i o n STATE OF KNOWLEDGE:

T r a f f i c i n j u r y r e s e a r c h F o u n d a t i o n STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: FEMALE drunk drivers The Traffic Injury Research Foundation The mission of the Traffic Injury research Foundation (TIrF)