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A successful high visibility enforcement intervention targeting underage drinking drivers.
Addiction. 2016 Feb 16;
Authors: Johnson MB
Abstract
AIMS: To measure the effectiveness of a high visibility enforcement campaign to reduce rates of underage drinking and driving.
DESIGN: Mixed model analysis compares rates of drinking and driving (1) between the baseline and intervention period and (2) between the baseline and follow-up period. The impact of the intervention was evaluated using roadside surveys and web surveys.
SETTING: Two college-town communities in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
PARTICIPANTS: Study participants consisted of 6,825 drivers stopped, interviewed and breathalyzed on weekend nights. Web survey data was collected from 2,061 students from large state universities in each community.
INTERVENTION: Increased high visibility enforcement of drinking and driving laws, featuring the use of passive alcohol sensors by police, along with a coordinated publicity campaign.
MEASURES: Roadside surveys measured breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC) of drivers. The web surveys measured self-reported drinking.
FINDINGS: Mixed model analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in drivers with BrACs ≥ .08 g/dl during the intervention and follow-up periods, F(2, 5744) = 6.5, p < .01. The web-survey revealed that students under age 21 also reported significantly less driving after drinking during the intervention and follow-up periods, F(2, 1767) = 4.6, p < .01.
CONCLUSIONS: A high visibility enforcement campaign targeting underage drinking and driving appeared to reduce illegal underage drinking and driving among US college students (breath alcohol concentration ≤ .02 g/dl) as well as drunk driving (breath alcohol concentration ≤ .08 g/dl) at any age.
PMID: 26880572 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]