title: Race, gender, and risk perceptions of the legal consequences of drinking and driving.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated whether subjective beliefs about the consequences of driving while intoxicated (DWI) differ by race/gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Beliefs affect driving behaviors and views of police/judicial fairness. The researchers compared risk perceptions of DWI using a survey of drinkers in eight cities in four states with actual arrest and conviction rates and fines from court data in the same cities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With state arrest data as a benchmark, Black males were overly pessimistic about being stopped, whether or not actual drinking occurred, and attributed higher jail penalties to DWI conviction. That Black males overestimated jail sentences incurred by the general population suggests that they did not attribute higher jail penalties to racial bias. Arrest data did not reveal disparities in judicial outcomes following DWI arrest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blacks' subjective beliefs about DWI consequences may reflect social experiences, which are not jurisdiction- or crime-specific; this is a challenge to policymakers aiming to deter DWI by changing statutes and enforcement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If perception of bias exists despite no actual bias, a change in enforcement policy would not be effective, but a public relations campaign would be helpful in realigning beliefs.
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Department of Economics, Box 90097, Durham, NC 27708, USA. fsloan@duke.edu
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Lindsey M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chepke
authors.forename: Dontrell V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult