COMBINING ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION TO DETER DWI: THE EXPERIENCE OF THREE COMMUNITIES. FINAL REPORT

This report summarizes the results of three field tests of the concept of combining enforcement with public information and education (PI&E) activities to achieve general deterrence of driving while intoxicated (DWI). Test communities were Clearwater/Largo, Florida, Indianapolis, Indiana and Boise, Idaho. Each community identified several specific DWI enforcement techniques to implement and PI&E materials were developed that highlighted those specific enforcement techniques. The programs were implemented in each community for approximately a one year period and measures of public awareness, reported drinking driving behavior and crash experience were examined in the test communities and comparison communities. The test programs represented a variety of enforcement and PI&E approaches as dictated by local conditions. Similarly there were varying effects of the programs. The salient enforcement technique associated with program effectiveness was the use of checkpoints. Overall command emphasis was also found to be important. A comprehensive PI&E program using public service ads, hard news coverage and community appearances was also associated with program success while reliance on a single PI&E approach was less likely to achieve desired results. Methodological issues in implementing and evaluating such interventions are also discussed.

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1513
• Corporate Authors:

  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  Highway Safety Research Center
  Chapel Hill, NC  United States  27599

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Lacey, J H
  • MARCHETTI, L M
  • Stewart, J R
  • Murphy, P V
  • Jones, R K
• Publication Date: 1990-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 62 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Awareness; Crashes; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Education; Field tests; Information dissemination; Law enforcement; Mass media; Measures of effectiveness; Publicity; Safety; Security checkpoints
• Uncontrolled Terms: Deterrence; Effectiveness
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I10: Economics and Administration; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00607635
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-807 601
• Files: HSL, NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 30 1991 12:00AM