Risk of alcohol-impaired driving recidivism among first offenders and multiple offenders.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the statewide impact of having prior alcohol-impaired driving violations of any type on the rate of first occurrence or recidivism among drivers with 0, 1, 2, or 3 or more prior violations in Maryland.


METHODS
We analyzed more than 100 million driver records from 1973 to 2004 and classified all Maryland drivers into 4 groups: those with 0, 1, 2, or 3 or more prior violations. The violation rates for approximately 21 million drivers in these 4 groups were compared for the study period 1999 to 2004.


RESULTS
On average, there were 3.4, 24.3, 35.9, and 50.8 violations per 1000 drivers a year among those with 0, 1, 2, or 3 or more priors, respectively. The relative risks for men compared with women among these groups of drivers were 3.8, 1.2, 1.0, and 1.0, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The recidivism rate among first offenders more closely resembles that of second offenders than of nonoffenders. Men and women are at equal risk of recidivating once they have had a first violation documented. Any alcohol-impaired driving violation, not just convictions, is a marker for future recidivism.
Rauch
William J
WJ
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), 2700 South Quincy Street, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22206, USA. rauch@auvsi.org
Zador
Paul L
PL
Ahlin
Eileen M
EM
Howard
Jan M
JM
Frissell
Kevin C
KC
Duncan
G Doug
GD
D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment