NTL Record

Title Enforcement and Public Information Strategies for DWI Deterrence: The Indianapolis, Indiana Experience
Record ID 25814
Personal Name
Creator
Lacey, John H.; Marchetti, Lauren M.; Stewart, J. Richard; Popkin, Carol L. (Carol Lederhaus); Murphy, Peter V.; Lucke, Roy E.; Jones, Ralph K.; Ruschmann, P. A. (Paul A.)
Source 117 p. in various pagings : ill.
Corporate Creator University of North Carolina (System). Highway Safety Research Center
Corporate
Contributor
United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Driver and Pedestrian Research
Publisher United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publication Date 19880700
Language English
Abstract This report summarizes the results of a field test of attempting to achieve driving while intoxicated (DWI) general deterrence by combining enforcement efforts with public information and education (PI&E) activities designed to heighten public awareness of the specific enforcement techniques being employed. The intent was to thereby increase the general driving public's perceived risk of arrest for DWI, deter them from that behavior and affect alcohol-related crashes. The program was implemented in Indianapolis, Indiana. Public awareness and crash statistics were monitored both there and in a comparison jurisdiction (Cincinnati, Ohio). Surveys indicated heightened awareness of DWI enforcement activities in the test site as well as increases in the perceived risk of arrest and sanctions for DWI. Indianapolis survey results also indicated reductions in reported drinking driving behavior. Analysis of the crash data indicated no reductions in police reported alcohol-related crashes att_ibutable to the program. However, there were indications that the night-time crashes were reduced in Indianapolis relative to Cincinnati coincident with the active implementation of project activities. It is hypothesized that the failure to detect any changes in police-reported alcohol. related crashes may in part be due to increased sensitivity to alcohol by police accident investigators. In this test site PI&E activities concentrated on hard news coverage. It is suggested that hard news coverage supplemented by public service PI&E activities may result in more sustained program effects. As in other test sites, the enforcement strategy most frequently referred to by survey respondents was the use of checkpoints or roadblocks. /Abstract from report summary page/
Rosap ID dot:1511
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1511
TRT Terms Drunk driving; Traffic law enforcement; Safety programs; Public information programs; Education; Traffic crashes; Field tests
General Subjects Impaired driving, Alcohol
Classification NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - SAFETY AND SECURITY;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Accidents
Geographical
Coverage
United States; Indianapolis (Indiana); Cincinnati (Ohio)
TRIS Online
Accession No
0494038
Contract Number DNH22-81-C-07071
Report Number DOT-HS-807-434
Availability NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
Resource type Research Paper
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/25000/25800/25814/DOT-HS-807-434.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository