OPERATION DRY RUN: AN ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM TO REDUCE DRINKING AND DRIVING BY TEENAGERS

The objective of this project was to test innovative countermeasures for combatting the impaired driving problem among teenagers. A site was selected in which the local police department worked with high school students to implement a series of enforcement strategies combined with a public awareness campaign. High school students were surveyed prior to and after the program at the test site and at a comparison location. The ultimate goal of the project was to identify effective strategies for reducing drinking and driving by youth and thereby reduce teenager deaths and injuries that result from alcohol-related crashes. Project tasks included: 1) selecting a high-risk site to conduct a four-month community intervention program; 2) assisting the site in the development of a community grant to conduct the program; 3) implementing enforcement strategies and an awareness program; 4) evaluating the effectiveness of the program; and 5) disseminating results. Enforcement strategies included officers patrolling and setting up checkpoints where teenagers drink and drive; special patrols on alert for underage drinking parties; the use of hand-held alcohol sensors to determine quickly the presence of alcohol; and the use of undercover law enforcement officers to apprehend underage purchasers of alcohol. Comparisons of pre- and post-program surveys found that the number of students indicating that they had consumed alcohol within the last month decreased from 43% prior to the program to 38% after the program. The comparison site's response remained unchanged at 47%. When asked how difficult it is to buy alcohol, test site students were less likely to say "pretty easy" or "very easy" after the program (54% and 45%, respectively), while the comparison site's responses increased (55% and 62%, respectively).

• Corporate Authors:

  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  Highway Safety Research Center
  Chapel Hill, NC  United States  27599

  North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program

  215 East Lane Street
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27601
• Authors:
  • MARCHETTI, L M
  • Tolbert, W G
  • Lowrance, J C
  • Stewart, J R
• Publication Date: 1995-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 62 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol use; Before and after studies; Countermeasures; Drunk driving; Law enforcement; Measures of effectiveness; Safety programs; Teenage drivers; Traffic safety education
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• 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: 00712935
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UNC-HSRC-95/4/2
• Contract Numbers: YP-94-07-03
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 2 1995 12:00AM