State of Montana impaired driver assessment, October 22-26, 2001

NHTSA · 2002 · ROSA P / Montana. Department of Transportation

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Summary

This report presents the findings of a technical assessment conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Technical Assistance Team regarding the State of Montana’s impaired driving countermeasures program. The assessment, performed from October 22–26, 2001, was motivated by the national goal to reduce alcohol-related traffic fatalities to no more than 11,000 per year by 2005. In 2000, alcohol was involved in approximately 40% of U.S. traffic fatalities, with Montana experiencing a slight decrease in total alcohol-related crashes from 1994 to 2000, though the reduction was modest. The NHTSA team, comprising experts in prevention, enforcement, prosecution, and program management, evaluated Montana’s existing efforts to identify gaps and recommend improvements. The methodology involved a comprehensive review of Montana’s Traffic & Safety Bureau (T&SB) operations, legislative frameworks, and local initiatives. The team interviewed 29 presenters, including state officials, law enforcement, prosecutors, and community program leaders, and reviewed briefing materials and data records. The assessment covered five primary domains: Program Management, Prevention, Deterrence, Driver Licensing, and Treatment and Rehabilitation. Specific attention was paid to the coordination between state and local entities, the efficacy of current laws, enforcement practices, and the availability of treatment resources. The team analyzed crash data, funding mechanisms, and the status of DUI task forces to determine the overall effectiveness of the state’s strategy. Key findings revealed significant structural and operational weaknesses in Montana’s impaired driving program. The statewide DUI task force, previously effective in passing legislation, had been dissolved, leading to fragmented coordination and declining legislative support. Local DUI task forces, while active, lacked funding because driver license reinstatement fees were absorbed into the state’s General Fund rather than being allocated to local prevention efforts. The T&SB faced staffing constraints, with only six employees managing all traffic safety programs, which hindered effective project monitoring and data analysis. Additionally, the state lacked a presumptive .08 blood alcohol concentration (AC) standard, an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) law, and a comprehensive public information and education plan. Data collection was inconsistent, as crash reporting was not mandatory for all agencies, and there was no unified system for tracking DUI offenders through assessment and treatment. The report concludes with priority recommendations aimed at strengthening Montana’s impaired driving countermeasures. Critical recommendations include reactivating the statewide DUI task force, enacting a .08 AC presumptive standard and ALR laws, and ensuring that driver license reinstatement fees are dedicated to local DUI prevention programs. The team advised formalizing planning meetings, improving project monitoring through staff cross-training or contracted services, and developing a comprehensive public information and education plan. Further suggestions included establishing a DUI client tracking system, requiring annual DUI training for prosecutors, and creating a graduated licensing system for novice drivers. These measures are intended to enhance coordination, increase deterrence through stricter laws and enforcement, and improve the management and evaluation of traffic safety programs.

Key finding

The assessment identified critical deficiencies in Montana's impaired driving program management and legislative framework, recommending the enactment of .08 AC presumptive standards, Administrative License Revocation laws, and the reactivation of statewide DUI task forces to improve program effectiveness.

Methodology

other

Sample size: 29

Provenance

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Topics

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• dui enforcement
• drowsy as impairment
• illicit drugs

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: policy recommendations, countermeasure evaluation