Citation

Menken E. Blutalkohol 1979; 16(4): 233-263.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Analyzing various sociological research results and the conditions of DWI in Germany, the author shows that the deterence hypothesis, especially for the drunken driver, is not operable. Summarizing the various theories of deviant behavior, the author distinguishes between the reasons for deviant behavior which are merely absent impediments and the person himself as a real cause (causa efficiens), influenced by his objective or ambition (causa finalis). Because heterogeneous control-methods like police-prosecuting, penal-sanctioning, and revoking the driver's licence have for many reasons only limited effects on traffic safety, if any, the author thinks it necessary to introduce the drunken driver to methods of self-control and behavior modification. Even if the German traffic-judge under the Law generally is obliged to revoke the drunken driver's licence, there are legal and psychological reasons not to do so if the defendant completed a learning program for DWI-first-offenders.