Enforcement, Adjudication and Public Information Strategies for the General Deterrence of Driving While Intoxicated: Information for Potential Field Site Participants

Anderson, Theodore E.; Compton, Richard P.; Snyder, Monroe B. · 1982 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Problem-Behavior Research Division

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Summary

This document outlines the design and recruitment strategy for a field test conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to evaluate general deterrence programs for driving while intoxicated (DWI). The research is motivated by the premise that general deterrence can reduce DWI-related deaths and injuries by influencing the broader population of potential drinking drivers, rather than just those already apprehended. The core hypothesis is that if the public’s perception of the risk of arrest and sanctioning is raised sufficiently, drivers will alter their behavior to avoid consequences. The project aims to determine the effectiveness of combined enforcement, adjudication, and public information strategies designed to increase this perceived risk across five specific dimensions: being observed, stopped, identified as impaired, punished, and perceiving the penalty as severe. The experimental design involves selecting matched test and control jurisdictions based on population, DWI laws, and media markets. Test sites are required to implement a comprehensive program for at least twelve months, utilizing at least five recommended enforcement or adjudication techniques that cover all five risk perception categories. These techniques include deployment strategies (such as highly visible or unobtrusive patrols at high-accident locations and drinking establishments, and roadblocks), detection methods (including DWI detection guides and preliminary breath tests), improved processing (such as audio/video recording and vehicle impoundment), and sanctioning measures (including administrative per se laws and mandatory minimum sentences). NHTSA provides technical assistance, survey instruments, and limited funding (approximately $75,000 per site), while local jurisdictions contribute implementation efforts, data access, and local public information coordination. The evaluation methodology relies on comparing pre- and post-implementation data between test and control sites. Effectiveness measures include rates and patterns of alcohol-related accidents, DWI arrest statistics, blood alcohol concentration levels of arrested drivers, and public perception metrics. The latter are assessed through telephone questionnaires administered in both test and control areas to gauge changes in the driving public’s perception of arrest and punishment risks. The document details specific enforcement techniques and their associated public information themes, emphasizing that successful deterrence requires addressing all "weak links" in the enforcement chain to ensure drivers believe they cannot evade detection or punishment. The significance of this study lies in its attempt to create a sustainable, resource-efficient model for DWI deterrence that can be implemented within existing jurisdictional resources. By focusing on raising perceived risk through a combination of visible enforcement and targeted public information, the project seeks to establish a replicable framework for reducing drunk driving. The findings are intended to guide local officials in designing programs that maximize community support and long-term behavioral change, moving beyond temporary crackdowns to establish a persistent deterrent effect.

Key finding

The document describes a proposed research design and operational manual for a field test rather than reporting completed empirical results or statistical findings.

Methodology

other

Provenance

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Topics

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• dui enforcement
• public messaging
• drowsy as impairment

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation, policy recommendations