00987734

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...nepubs/circulars/ec072.pdf

There is substantial and consistent evidence from research that highly publicized, highly visible, and frequent sobriety checkpoints reduce impaired driving fatal crashes by 18% to 24%. Sobriety checkpoint programs, when conducted appropriately, save lives. However, only 11 states in the United States conduct sobriety checkpoints on at least a weekly basis. Lack of police resources and funding, lack of support by task forces and citizen activists, and the perception that checkpoints are not productive or cost-effective are the main reasons for their infrequent use. These barriers can be overcome through education and training. Enlightened task forces and citizen activists can provide the motivation to use this effective enforcement tool. With the national focus on homeland security, the timing is ideal for increased traffic enforcement in America. The public has always supported the increased use of sobriety checkpoints and should support their increased use to check not only for impaired drivers but also for valid driver's licenses and identification and for any illegal activity. Checkpoints have been shown to detect not only impaired drivers but also drivers not wearing safety belts, drivers with suspended licenses, fugitives, illegal weapons, stolen vehicles, and numerous other violations. It is recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) work with the International Association for Chiefs of Police (IACP), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security to enhance the use of traffic enforcement programs, particularly sobriety checkpoints, to reduce impaired driving and other crimes.

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

00987728

English

p. 35-44

2005-1

Transportation Research Circular

Putting Research Into Action: A Symposium on the Implementation of Research-Based Impaired Driving Countermeasures

References; Tables (2)

Countermeasures; Drunk driving; Education and training; Impaired drivers; Implementation; Recommendations; Sobriety checkpoints; Traffic law enforcement

Education and Training; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Mar 22 2005 12:00AM

• CHALLENGES TO IGNITION INTERLOCK PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
• COMMENTARY ON "GENERAL THEORY ON TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO POLICY AND PRACTICE"
• COMMENTARY ON "MINORITIES AND PRIMARY VERSUS SECONDARY BELT USE ENFORCEMENT"
• COMMENTARY ON "THE FALL AND RISE OF GRADUATED LICENSING IN NORTH AMERICA," "THE CASE FOR 0.08% PER SE LAWS," AND UNDERAGE DRINKING ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER
• COMMENTARY ON "VEHICLE SANCTIONS FOR REPEAT DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OFFENDERS" AND ON "CHALLENGES TO IGNITION INTERLOCK PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION"
• COMMENTARY ON ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES
• GENERAL THEORY ON TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO POLICY AND PRACTICE
• IMPLEMENTING IMPAIRED DRIVING COUNTERMEASURES: PUTTING RESEARCH INTO ACTION, A SYMPOSIUM, AUGUST 21-23, 2003, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA. FOREWORD
• MEASURING SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY ACTION IN ALCOHOL PREVENTION
• MINORITIES AND PRIMARY VERSUS SECONDARY BELT USE ENFORCEMENT
• PREVENTING ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS: PUBLIC POLICY STRATEGIES
• THE CASE FOR 0.08% PER SE LAWS
• THE FALL AND RISE OF GRADUATED LICENSING IN NORTH AMERICA
• THE PASSPOINT SYSTEM--PASSIVE SENSORS AT MINICHECKPOINTS: BRINGING AUSTRALIA'S RANDOM BREATH TEST SYSTEM TO THE UNITED STATES
• THE PROBLEM DRIVER DETECTION SYSTEM: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
• VEHICLE SANCTIONS FOR REPEAT DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OFFENDERS: FACTORS THAT FACILITATE OR IMPEDE THEIR ADOPTION OR IMPLEMENTATION