IMPACT EVALUATION OF LEXINGTON-FAYETTE COUNTY TRAFFIC ALCOHOL PROGRAM (ABRIDGMENT)

In an attempt to lower the number of alcohol-related accidents, a comprehensive program of countermeasures was implemented in Lexington - Fayette County, Kentucky. The program involved a coordinated effort among the Division of Police, the judicial system, rehabilitation program administrators, educational institutions, and the local news media. Included in the program were (a) officer training to spot driving under the influence (DUI), (b) deployment of officers for DUI enforcement, (c) a public information campaign, and (d) development and implementation of an effective alcohol education program. An evaluation of the Traffic Alcohol Program (TAP) that began on May 1, 1982, is given. Information collected for the analysis included accident data, arrest and adjudication data, and personal opinion data obtained by means of a questionnaire survey. Accident data were collected for 2 years before TAP and 1 year into the program. A 25 percent sample of arrest and adjudication data was collected 1 year before and 1 year during TAP. The questionnaire was sent to 2,500 registered vehicle owners. Results from before-and-after comparisons and time-series analyses indicated that alcohol-related accidents decreased significantly as a result of TAP. The number of DUI arrests increased from 929 in the year before TAP to 4,427 during the first year of TAP. The program as found to be cost effective with a benefit-cost ratio greater than 2. More than half of the respondents of the survey indicated that TAP increased their chance of DUI arrest.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/974/974-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPACT+EVALUATION+OF+LEXINGTON-FAYETTE+COUNTY+TRAFFIC+ALCOHOL+PROGRAM+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=J.+Pigman&author=K.+Agent&publication_year=1984
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Law Enforcement.
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• Authors:
  • Pigman, Jerry G
  • Agent, Kenneth R
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 4-7
• Monograph Title: POLICE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND ALCOHOL COUNTERMEASURES
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 974
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol use; Before and after studies; Benefit cost analysis; Cost effectiveness; Countermeasures; Drunk driving; Impact studies; Police; Safety; Safety programs; Time series; Traffic arrests; Traffic law enforcement; Traffic safety; Traffic safety education; Training
• Geographic Terms: Fayette County (Kentucky)
• Old TRIS Terms: Alcohol education programs
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00394919
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309037565
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 630
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 31 1985 12:00AM