Best Practices of Successful State Impaired-Driving Task Forces [Traffic Tech]

NHTSA · 2024 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report addresses the persistent public health and safety crisis of impaired driving in the United States. In 2021, approximately 30% of the 42,915 traffic fatalities involved drivers with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. Additionally, the report highlights a significant rise in drug-impaired driving, particularly involving delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. To combat these trends, states have established impaired-driving task forces—also known as commissions, coalitions, or advisory groups—to assess the problem, document existing systems, and recommend improvements. These bodies address legislative issues, enforcement strategies, criminal justice processing, sentencing, offender treatment, and underage drinking initiatives. The report aims to provide officials with best practices derived from successful state frameworks to inform the development or strengthening of their own task forces. The study methodology involved identifying 32 state task forces through outreach to NHTSA, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and web searches in fall 2021. Nine of these task forces were selected for further study and interviews, representing states including North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Minnesota, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, and Montana. Interviews with representatives from these nine groups were conducted to identify attributes contributing to their success. The analysis focused on structural elements such as leadership, membership composition, strategic planning, and operational practices. The findings identify several key attributes of successful task forces. First, strong leadership is critical; chairs often hold positions such as State Highway Safety Office directors or DUI prosecutors, possessing the authority to implement strategies and the respect of members. Second, membership must be diverse, ensuring representation from all stakeholder groups, including state agencies, research entities, enforcement officials, and experts in emerging areas like oral fluid drug testing. This diversity fosters varied perspectives and strengthens advocacy. Third, members are self-motivated, engaged, and maintain high attendance rates. Successful task forces also develop and adhere to strategic plans, often integrated into Triennial Highway Safety Plans, using data to track progress and update goals. They formulate innovative solutions to overcome obstacles and hold members accountable for specific aspects of the plan. Furthermore, diversity, racial equity, and inclusion are integral to both membership and goals. The significance of this report lies in its provision of a practical framework for state officials seeking to reduce impaired-driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities. By outlining specific best practices—such as appointing authoritative chairs, ensuring comprehensive stakeholder representation, and maintaining rigorous strategic planning—the report offers actionable guidance for establishing effective task forces. These mechanisms serve as vital resources for coordinating multi-agency efforts and advocating for evidence-based strategies to mitigate the impacts of alcohol and drug-impaired driving.

Key finding

Successful state impaired-driving task forces are characterized by strong leadership, diverse stakeholder representation, active member engagement, and the use of strategic plans to track progress and ensure accountability.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 9

Provenance

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• dui enforcement