Latency periods between alcohol-related traffic violations: implications for recidivism.

Objective: Before October 1, 2002, Maryland's regulations for relicensing drivers with 2 recorded alcohol-related traffic violations distinguished between offenders with 5 or more years between their first and second violations and those with less than 5 years. Our research examined whether this policy was supported by differential probabilities of recidivism and violation-free survival.

Methods: We compared recidivism rates and survival probabilities among the 2 latency subgroups and 2 control groups (first offenders and drivers with no previous alcohol-related traffic violation).

The effects of closer monitoring on driver compliance with interlock restrictions.

This randomized controlled trial of 2168 DWI multiple offenders assigned to a state-wide ignition interlock program in Maryland compared non-compliance with interlock requirements among drivers who were closely monitored (by Westat staff) and drivers who received standard monitoring (by the Motor Vehicle Administration). Compliance comparisons relied on datalogger data from MVA's interlock providers plus driver records that contained demographic information, prior alcohol-related traffic violations, their dispositions, and interlock duration. Measures for quantifying non-compliance included rates per 1000 engine starts for initial breath test failures at varying BAC levels and time periods, retest failures, retest refusals, interlock disconnects, startup violations, and summation measures.

First-time DWI offenders are at risk of recidivating regardless of sanctions imposed.

OBJECTIVE: Research demonstrates that punitive approaches to DWI employed by the judiciary have failed to significantly reduce recidivism. However, little is known about the deterrent effects of administrative and diversion sanctions. We examine whether such sanctions deter first-time DWI offenders.

Risk of alcohol-impaired driving recidivism among first offenders and multiple offenders.

Objectives: We sought to determine the statewide impact of having prior alcohol-impaired driving violations of any type on the rate of first occurrence or recidivism among drivers with 0, 1, 2, or 3 or more prior violations in Maryland.

Methods: We analyzed more than 100 million driver records from 1973 to 2004 and classified all Maryland drivers into 4 groups: those with 0, 1, 2, or 3 or more prior violations. The violation rates for approximately 21 million drivers in these 4 groups were compared for the study period 1999 to 2004.

Biomechanical comparison of four different fixation techniques for pediatric tibial eminence avulsion fractures.

Background: Several different methods have been used to repair tibial eminence avulsion fractures. It is not clear which is the best stabilization method. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical stability of tibial eminence avulsion fractures using suture, resorbable screw, resorbable nail, and metal screw techniques.

The usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of anterolateral impingement of the ankle.

The purpose of this study is to assess the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of anterolateral impingement of the ankle and to assess the most helpful sequence in making the diagnosis. Twenty-four patients who had undergone ankle arthroscopy were chosen. Twelve patients had arthroscopically documented anterolateral impingement, and 12 patients with no impingement on arthroscopy served as controls.