Evaluation of New Mexico's Anti-DWI Efforts

Lacey, John H.; Jones, R. K. (Ralph K.) · 2000 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Research and Traffic Records

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Summary

This study evaluates the impact of comprehensive anti-DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) reforms implemented in New Mexico during late 1993 and early 1994. Motivated by New Mexico’s historically high rates of alcohol-related fatal crashes, which significantly exceeded the national average, the research aimed to assess the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention combining legislative changes with intensified enforcement. The legislative package included lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for adults from 0.10 to 0.08, establishing a "zero tolerance" limit of 0.02 for drivers under 21, increasing penalties for aggravated DWI, and raising taxes on alcoholic beverages to fund prevention programs. Concurrently, the state launched an extensive statewide sobriety checkpoint initiative, conducting 910 checkpoints between December 1993 and December 1995, accompanied by widespread public information campaigns. The evaluation employed an interrupted time series analysis using ARIMA modeling to determine the effect of these interventions on drunk-driving fatal crashes, defined as crashes involving a driver with a BAC of 0.10 or higher. Data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) covered the period from 1988 to 1995, with December 1, 1993, serving as the intervention point. To control for regional trends, the study compared New Mexico’s crash data against a composite model of five neighboring states (Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Nevada). Additionally, telephone surveys conducted in late 1993, spring 1994, and fall 1994 assessed public awareness of the program, perceived risk of arrest, and self-reported drinking-driving behavior among licensed drivers. The analysis revealed a 19.25% reduction in drunk-driving fatal crashes in New Mexico following the intervention, a decrease that was near statistically significant. In contrast, the comparison states showed only a negligible, insignificant 3.52% decrease, supporting the conclusion that the New Mexico program drove the observed improvement. Although the reduction did not reach statistical significance at the 0.05 level due to the state’s small population size, the magnitude of the decline was substantial. Survey results indicated increased public awareness of the enforcement efforts, with perceived risk of arrest rising among female respondents and overall confidence in the application of sanctions increasing for both genders. Self-reported drinking-driving behavior remained relatively stable, though awareness of the "Operation DWI" program was high. The study concludes that the combined legislative and enforcement strategy effectively reduced alcohol-related fatalities, bringing New Mexico’s crash rate closer to the national average. By 1997, the percentage of fatal crashes involving a driver with a BAC of 0.10 or greater had dropped from 48.0% in 1993 to 35.7%. The authors recommend that other states consider adopting similar multi-faceted approaches, integrating legal reforms with visible enforcement and public education, to combat impaired driving.

Key finding

New Mexico experienced a 19.25% reduction in drunk-driving fatal crashes following the implementation of combined legislative changes and statewide checkpoint enforcement.

Methodology

naturalistic

Provenance

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Topics

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• dui enforcement
• drowsy as impairment
• alcohol
• driver education effectiveness

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation, policy recommendations
• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes