Evaluation of Seven Publicized Enforcement Demonstration Programs to Reduce Impaired Driving[Report]

Between 2000 and 2003, NHTSA funded seven alcohol demonstration programs designed to reduce impaired driving through well-publicized and highly visible enforcement. These demonstration programs were not specifically designed to be research evaluation studies; instead, they were designed to reduce drinking-and-driving behavior and ultimately alcohol related crashes. The states varied widely in their enforcement methods, media methods, and their paid and earned media budgets and messages.

Four of the programs were conducted statewide or nearly statewide. Paid advertising was used in Georgia, Indiana and Michigan.  In GA, TN, IN, and PA sobriety checkpoints were conducted throughout the data collection period. In LA checkpoints were permitted part way through data collection and in Texas and Michigan, checkpoints were not permitted.  The number and types of enforcement activities varied considerably from State to State.  Georgia reported using 2,837 checkpoints. Pennsylvania used checkpoints, mobile awareness patrols, and roving patrols yielding more than 1,100 roadside enforcement actions, while Tennessee used a combination of checkpoints (535), enforcement roadblocks (approximately 270), and saturation patrols (270).  Michigan used 1,122 saturation and routine patrols and in Indiana more than 3,800 patrol hours were reported.  The number of DUI or DWI arrests varied considerably, typically varying from a few hundred to a few thousand.