RTSSC Research Reports
Report Details

Title:	Does the 24/7 Sobriety Program Positively Influence Driver Behaviors in North Dakota?
Authors:	Andrew Kubas, Poyraz Kayabas, and Kimberly Vachal
Publication Date:	Sep 2017
Report #:	DP-296
TRID #:	01649400
Keywords:	before and after studies, behavior, crash rates, drivers, drunk driving, impaired drivers, legislation, recidivism, repeat offenders, traffic citations
Type:	Research Report – Department Publications

Abstract

The 24/7 Sobriety Program is an intervention strategy mandating that impaired driving offenders remain sober as a condition of bond or pre-trial release. The goal is to monitor the most at-risk offenders in North Dakota and require that these individuals remain sober in order to keep roadways safe from hazardous drivers. As a component of the program, offenders are required to submit to twice-a-day blood alcohol concentration tests, ankle bracelet monitoring, drug patches, or urinalysis as a monitoring technique. If a program participant fails to remain sober, the individual is sent directly to jail. In 2013, House Bill 1302 – which mandated longer enrollment periods for repeat DUI offenders – went into effect. This project seeks to understand four areas: if before-and-after deterrent effects arise upon program enrollment; if House Bill 1302 had a stronger deterrent effect on program participants; if some factors contribute to recidivism more than others; and, if program enrollees outperform a control group of other impaired drivers not subjected to the intervention. Results show that participants significantly improve crash and citation metrics after enrolling in the program. Longer sentencing periods have stronger deterrent effects on DUI-related citations. Individuals participating in the program more than once have higher odds of relapsing into impaired driving behavior. Additional treatment for these individuals may be appropriate as they likely represent the portion of the North Dakota driver population which has issues with alcohol abuse and self-control. Nonetheless, compared to a control group of DUI offenders, those enrolled in the 24/7 Sobriety Program are significantly less likely to recidivate: the 24/7 Sobriety Program reduces DUI-related recidivism by 29.7%, 34.2%, and 39.5% in the 60 days, 365 days, and 730 days following an impaired driving-related citation.

How to Cite

Kubas, Andrew, Poyraz Kayabas, and Kimberly Vachal. Does the 24/7 Sobriety Program Positively Influence Driver Behaviors in North Dakota?, DP-296. North Dakota State University, Fargo: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, 2017.