DrinkAndDriveUniversity of Missouri-Columbia Professor Denis McCarthy, who surveyed 938 students on their attitudes towards drinking and driving, has found out that punishments such as arrests are not enough to teach a lesson to the drivers who drink and drive.



“When people get punishment for something, they are less likely to do it in the future,” said McCarthy, who is an assistant professor of psychology. “That doesn’t appear to be as true for drinking and driving. One thing you can tentatively conclude from the study is that people who got into trouble continued to drink and drive more than other people.”



McCarthy questioned the students about their views if they are arrested for drinking and driving. He also asked students how dangerous they thought it was to drive after consuming various quantities of alcohol. After the survey, he found that those who have experienced depressing consequences from drinking and driving are usually not frightened to do it again.



According to various surveys, 1980 has seen a decrease in drunken driving. But it has leveled back since the mid-90s. One reason for this is that it is very tough for the hard-core drinkers to change who still drink and drive.



What the study proves is that the consequences of drinking and driving must go beyond arrest and conviction of the drunken drivers.







Via