VIDEO LEARNING CENTER
DWI BLOOD TESTS
Are blood tests more accurate than breath tests? Blood tests are not always reliable.
About David Breston
The Breston Law Firm has handled over 4,000 cases and has been helping people in Texas since 1987. Watch this video to find out more about our firm
CHOOSING A DWI LAWYER
Learn how to choose a DWI lawyer and the importance of choosing an experienced attorney.
DWI PENALTIES
A Texas DWI charge can cost you to lose your license, you face fines and may cost you your job.
DWI/DUI CHARGES
Have you been charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)? Watch this video by David Breston explaining how he may be able to help you.
DWI BREATH TESTS
Should you refuse a breath test if you are pulled over for DWI in Texas? Watch this video to learn.
The Results of a Number of Studies
The federal and state government as well as a large number of private organizations fund studies that provide a wealth of information related to drinking and driving, intoxicated and/or impaired driving and related matters. What follows is a synopsis of some of the more recent research in these areas.
A comprehensive study done at the University of Florida set out to determine the effectiveness of incarceration as a deterrent to intoxicated driving. Using data collected from a 17 year time span and with careful consideration of predetermined variables, the researchers concluded that there was no appreciable decrease in drunk driving deaths as a result of the current and ever-increasing number of DUI laws and stiffer penalties for impaired driving.
Another study in Wisconsin was conducted to develop a correlation between the likelihood that first-time DWI offenders would drive while their license was suspended. Surveillance professionals were used to perform unobtrusive observations during designated hours. The results were surprising. In some cases up to 88% of subjects could be observed driving on a suspended license and in other jurisdictions nearly 40% were found to engage in the same illegal behavior. One of the conclusions drawn from the findings was that the tendency to chance driving with a suspended license depended in part on the state in which the suspension occurred and its reputation for the severity of retribution for the illegal behavior.
Perhaps one of the most interesting studies of all was done by a research institute in Missouri where officials wanted to determine with some certainty the public's perception of local DUI law enforcement. One of the most pressing reasons for the research was to better quantify the number of drunk drivers on the road at any given time – using a 'sampling' as a measure that could be inserted into a hypothetical mathematical equation. Surprisingly, this study yielded more questions than answers – or at least demonstrated a need to clarify the parameters for better success. Unfortunately, the most valuable information gleaned from the time spent in collecting data was that the question itself was too broad and needed to be made more specific to be valuable. For instance, researchers needed to limit the controlled conditions of a DUI stop and include data of persons stopped but not arrested for DUI.
In the last study we will consider researchers focused on the problem of drowsy driving. Now at first you may be asking yourself how is this relevant to our website on driving under the influence – but the parallels will be easy to discern. The 'symptoms' of drowsy driving are quite similar to that of impaired driving. Drowsy drivers tend to weave on the road, pay little attention to driving and roadway mandates (such as speed limits, right-of-way, etc.) and are the cause of numerous accidents and highway fatalities. Unfortunately, there is no blood test to determine whether or not they were at fault in the case of an accident BUT to be sure – drowsy driving is every bit as dangerous as intoxicated driving.
The point? We need to expand our concerns about dangerous driving beyond the realm of the DUI.