THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED CHARGES, POLICE VISIBILITY, AND ALCOHOL-RELATED CASUALTY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, BRITISH COLUMBIA, DECEMBER 1977-DECEMBER 1980
The results of this study show that: (1) The frequency of Driving While Impaired charges in no way relates to a reduction of Alcohol-related casualty traffic accidents; (2) The frequency of Driving While Impaired charges does not particularly relate to police drinking-driving roadcheck activities as measured by vehicles checked by BATmobile teams; and (3) Police visibility as measured by BATmobile roadcheck activity relates significantly to a reduction of alcohol-related casualty traffic accidents in the month the checks are carried out and continues to relate to a reduction in these accidents in the following month. The probable explanation for the reduction of alcohol-related casualty traffic accidents being related to increased police visibility is that the potential drinking driver's fear of apprehension is increased by the police presence and thus that driver does not drink and drive and consequently avoids alcohol-related accidents. From these findings it is recommended that police resources should be directed toward high visibility roadcheck activities in order to reduce alcohol-related traffic casualties.
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Corporate Authors:
Ministry of Attorney General
CounterAttack Program, Police Services Branch
Vancouver V6Z 2E6, BC Canada -
Authors:
- MERCER, G W
- Publication Date: 1984-5
Media Info
- Features: Figures; Tables;
- Pagination: 10 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Countermeasures; Drunk driving; Measures of effectiveness; Police; Safety; Sobriety checkpoints; Traffic safety; Visibility
- Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00392779
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: HS-037 497
- Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Feb 28 1985 12:00AM