Michigan Drunk Driving Conditions and Socioeconomic Factors
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: Drunk driving is a complicated social issue and may be responsive to many different socioeconomic factors. In order to adopt the most effective policies to combat drunk driving, the socioeconomic factors that affect drunk driving must be identified. SUBJECTS: County level data for drunk driving convictions was compiled from the Michigan State Police’s 2011 Drunk Driving Audit. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The number of “drunk driving” convictions per county was calculated by combining data for several different crimes, all involving the unlawful operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Income and education data was taken from the 2000 Census’ Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics and the 2000 Census’ Profile of General Demographic Characteristics. Using ArcMap10, drunk driving convictions were mapped by county. ANALYSES: Moran’s I was calculated to determine spatial autocorrelation and identify clusters of convictions. RESULTS: There is one cluster of high drunk driving in Michigan. It is located in southeast Michigan in Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. The predominant socioeconomic factors in this area include above average education (excepting Wayne County) and above average income. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study imply that, as a social problem, drunk driving is worse in areas with higher education and higher income. These results are somewhat unexpected and raise questions about the validity of this study and suggest direction for future study.
Michigan Drunk Driving Conditions and Socioeconomic Factors
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: Drunk driving is a complicated social issue and may be responsive to many different socioeconomic factors. In order to adopt the most effective policies to combat drunk driving, the socioeconomic factors that affect drunk driving must be identified. SUBJECTS: County level data for drunk driving convictions was compiled from the Michigan State Police’s 2011 Drunk Driving Audit. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The number of “drunk driving” convictions per county was calculated by combining data for several different crimes, all involving the unlawful operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Income and education data was taken from the 2000 Census’ Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics and the 2000 Census’ Profile of General Demographic Characteristics. Using ArcMap10, drunk driving convictions were mapped by county. ANALYSES: Moran’s I was calculated to determine spatial autocorrelation and identify clusters of convictions. RESULTS: There is one cluster of high drunk driving in Michigan. It is located in southeast Michigan in Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. The predominant socioeconomic factors in this area include above average education (excepting Wayne County) and above average income. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study imply that, as a social problem, drunk driving is worse in areas with higher education and higher income. These results are somewhat unexpected and raise questions about the validity of this study and suggest direction for future study.