Current interlock technology

Drunk Driving Behavior “Study”

The number 87 is one of Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s favorite talking points: First offenders drive drunk on average 87 times before they are caught.[1]

MADD uses this number to justify mandating interlocks for first-time offenders with low BACs.

The truth is: This widely-publicized figure is based on rough estimates from self-reported data—commonly criticized as unreliable—collected from a small sample 15 years ago. Even the study’s own authors admit the estimates are “crude.” Yet, MADD has dubbed it “fact.”

What other bad stats are being thrown around?

  1. Zador, Paul. (2000) 'Drinking and Driving Trips, Stops by the Police, and Arests: Analyses of the 1995 National Survery of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behavior', NHTSA, 1-32PDF