Force drunk drivers into mandatory DUI courses – Rotarians told
An organisation is campaigning to make drivers' education courses mandatory for persons caught operating a vehicle while impaired.
Fiona Elkinson told Hamilton Rotarians that less than 20 percent of people convicted of driving under the influence in the last seven years have participated in a DUI programme.
As such, persons caught drinking and driving should be forced to participate in such programmes as part of their sentence, the assistant director of Bermuda Professional Counselling Services (BPCS) stated.
As it stands, she said, offenders have the option of participating in a recognised DUI programme and those who do may have driving privileges returned after nine months instead of the legislated 12.
Mrs. Elkinson said the BPCS DUI programme is recognised overseas, and has been an official Government course since 2001.
"The BPCS DUI programme was developed in 2000 by Ms Cecile Harris, a longtime counsellor in addiction services in Bermuda.
"Ms Harris administrated one of the first DUI programmes in Ventura County, California. The BPCS DUI programme was modelled after the Florida, California and Virginia DUI programmes and was adapted to suit Bermuda's specific challenges."
Only a fraction of offenders in Bermuda have elected to participate in a DUI programme, Mrs. Elkinson stated.
"In the last seven years in Bermuda there's been an average of 350 DUI arrests a year. Less than 20 percent of those participated in the DUI programme.
"Most people who do the programme are surprised to find out that they have more of a drinking problem than they thought, while others already know that they need help."
Offenders are usually advised of the programme in court, however there have been challenges in ensuring everyone is told about the option, said Mrs. Elkinson.
She added that two approaches are generally considered in discussions on how best to prevent drink driving recidivism punishment and rehabilitation.
"According to the studies, the punishment approach on its own, like, for example giving someone a fine and taking someone off the road, has little effect on drunk driving recidivism.
"The studies found that there was a high likelihood that when an offender who was only punished, returned to driving after a DUI arrest, that his or her behaviour was largely unchanged.
She added: "However, when the rehabilitation was a part of the consequence particularly for first time offenders the use of rehabilitation and education was the most effective way to deter drunk driving.
"The educational programmes were found to make a difference to the DUI offender's behaviour. It was found that the DUI educational programmes were more likely to prevent drunk driving recidivism than punishment on its own."
Bermuda's 1947 Road Traffic Act mandates that a DUI offender receives a $1,000 fine and one year off the road.
Participation in a DUI programme which is optional enables three months' to be taken off the licence suspension.
According to Mrs. Elkinson, a recent study revealed that 80 percent of DUI offenders in Bermuda received the punishment approach, which had little to no effect in changing their behaviour.
"I find that scary, 80 percent will probably go back to their past behaviours and endanger you, me and everyone on the roads by doing so," she said.
BPCS holds its DUI education classes on an 'as needed' basis, at the Bermuda Red Cross on Berry Hill Road in Paget.
"We are focused on immediate outcomes relevant to DUI recidivism, specifically, individuals readiness for change regarding drinking and driving," Mrs. Elkinson stated.
"The current research demonstrates that the programme is effective in moving participants toward more readiness for change, and toward a strategy of planning ahead to avoid driving to any venue in which drinking may occur.
"Our mission at BPCS is to educate more people about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and to create safer road travel as a result.
She added: "The programme is an opportunity for behaviour change. In other words, the DUI offenders who have experienced problems related to their substance abuse will have the opportunity to objectively evaluate the costs and benefits of substance use and abuse."
For more information telephone 296-6785 or 799-3938 or send an e-mail, duiedubda@yahoo.com.