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Lenk KM, Scholz N, Erickson DJ, Joshi S, Toomey TL, Jones-Webb R, Nelson TF. Alcohol Enforcement in the United States From 2010 to 2019. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2023; 84:416-423. [PMID: 36971727 PMCID: PMC10364783 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.22-00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite the important role of enforcement in reducing alcohol-related harms, few studies have assessed alcohol enforcement efforts, particularly over time. We assessed the prevalence of alcohol law enforcement strategies at two time points. METHOD Of a random sample of U.S. local law enforcement agencies (i.e., police, sheriff) surveyed in 2010, 1,028 were resurveyed in 2019 (742/1,028 [72%] response rate). We assessed changes in alcohol enforcement strategies and priorities within three domains: (a) alcohol-impaired driving, (b) alcohol sales to obviously intoxicated patrons (i.e., overservice), and (c) underage drinking. RESULTS Agencies reported placing higher priority on enforcement of alcohol-impaired driving and overservice in 2019 versus 2010. For alcohol-impaired driving enforcement strategies, we found increases over time in use of saturation patrols and in enforcing laws prohibiting open containers of alcohol in motor vehicles, but not in use of sobriety checkpoints. Approximately 25% of agencies conducted overservice enforcement in both years. For all strategies directed at underage drinking, enforcement decreased over time with more agencies using strategies aimed at underage drinkers versus alcohol suppliers (alcohol outlets, adults) in both years. CONCLUSIONS Agencies reported continued low levels or declines in enforcement across most strategies despite reported increases in prioritizing alcohol enforcement. More agencies could adopt alcohol control enforcement strategies, including an increased focus on suppliers of alcohol to youth rather than on underage drinkers, and increased awareness and enforcement of selling alcohol to obviously intoxicated patrons. Use of these strategies has the potential to reduce health and safety consequences of excessive alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M. Lenk
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Natalie Scholz
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Darin J. Erickson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Spruha Joshi
- Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Traci L. Toomey
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Rhonda Jones-Webb
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Toben F. Nelson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Jankhotkaew J, Casswell S, Huckle T, Chaiyasong S, Phonsuk P. Quantitative tools and measurements for assessing the implementation of regulatory policies in reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms: A scoping review. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023; 42:157-168. [PMID: 36097414 PMCID: PMC10087297 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
ISSUES Implementation of alcohol control policy is a global priority as alcohol contributes to negative individual health and societal impacts. However, there are no available reviews that comprehensively provide tools and measurements for assessing the implementation of alcohol control policy. This study reviews tools and measurements for assessing alcohol policy implementation. Policies considered include alcohol pricing and taxation, alcohol marketing control, physical availability control and drink-driving policy. APPROACH We conducted a scoping review from Scopus, Web of Science and the World Health Organization's website. We included studies on policy implementation for the four most effective prevention policies published worldwide between 2000 and 2021. KEY FINDINGS The search yielded 11,654 articles and these were narrowed down to 39 included studies. Of these 39 studies, almost half assessed the implementation of a drink-driving policy (n = 19), followed multipolicy (n = 12) and physical availability control (n = 8). There was no single study assessing policy implementation of pricing and taxation or alcohol marketing control. The majority of the studies were conducted in high-income countries (n = 31). Globally, there is no standardised tool or guidelines for measuring the policy implementation of these four policies. The tools for measuring policy implementation mostly focused on a single policy, and few covered multiple policies. IMPLICATIONS We recommend developing standardised tools and measurements to monitor policy implementation across multiple policies at country levels. CONCLUSION This review highlighted a lack of comprehensive and standardised tools to assess policy implementation and the limited number of studies on alcohol policy implementation in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintana Jankhotkaew
- SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.,International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Sally Casswell
- SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Taisia Huckle
- SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Surasak Chaiyasong
- International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.,Alcohol and Health Promotion Policy Research Unit and Social Pharmacy Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand
| | - Payao Phonsuk
- Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Scholz N, Lenk KM, Erickson DJ, Toomey TL, Jones-Webb R, Nelson TF. Alcohol-impaired driving enforcement priorities and strategies in a nationwide sample of U.S. law enforcement agencies. TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION 2022; 24:1-6. [PMID: 36480231 PMCID: PMC9850454 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2022.2150049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Excessive alcohol consumption leads to a range of public health problems and social and financial burdens. Traffic crashes resulting from alcohol-involved driving are a major contributor to the overall health consequences of alcohol. Various laws and enforcement strategies aim to prevent alcohol-involved driving. The extent to which law enforcement agencies prioritize enforcement of alcohol-impaired driving laws can help to reduce alcohol-impaired driving. Among law enforcement agencies in the US, we examined prioritization of alcohol-impaired driving enforcement and how it is associated with use of specific enforcement strategies, as well as agency and community characteristics. METHODS We conducted a survey of a national sample of 1,024 US police and sheriff agencies in 2019. We assessed prioritization of alcohol-impaired driving enforcement, use of specific enforcement strategies (saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints, open container law enforcement, training field officers to identify driving impairment), and agency and jurisdiction characteristics. We assessed how priority of enforcement (high vs. low) was associated with use of specific strategies, and agency and jurisdiction characteristics using regression models that accounted for agencies nesting within states. RESULTS A majority of agencies (68%) placed a high priority on alcohol-impaired driving enforcement. Almost all agencies (93%) reported performing at least one alcohol-impaired driving enforcement strategy and the most common strategy used was saturation patrols. Agencies that prioritized alcohol-impaired driving enforcement were more likely to use sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, conduct enforcement of open container laws and train field officers in identifying driving impairment (p < 0.05). They were also more likely to have an officer assigned primarily to alcohol enforcement, have an alcohol division, and serve jurisdictions that had fewer Black residents (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Many law enforcement agencies utilize strategies to address alcohol-impaired driving, however, some strategies are underutilized and an opportunity exists for agencies to incorporate additional strategies to help prevent alcohol-impaired driving. Agencies that made alcohol-impaired driving enforcement a priority were more likely to conduct related enforcement strategies. Encouraging police and sheriff agencies to prioritize alcohol-impaired driving enforcement may be an effective approach for preventing alcohol-related harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Scholz
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1300 S. Second St. Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454
| | - Kathleen M. Lenk
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1300 S. Second St. Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454
| | - Darin J. Erickson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1300 S. Second St. Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454
| | - Traci L. Toomey
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1300 S. Second St. Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454
| | - Rhonda Jones-Webb
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1300 S. Second St. Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454
| | - Toben F. Nelson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1300 S. Second St. Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454
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O’Hara SE, Paschall MJ, Herd D. Determining a dosage threshold of drink-driving enforcement operations: A systematic review. Drug Alcohol Rev 2022; 41:1610-1620. [PMID: 35894270 PMCID: PMC9633361 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
ISSUES Policy enforcement is crucial to achieve impacts on alcohol-related harm. It is not clear what level of enforcement intensity or 'dosage' is necessary for addressing drink driving and related harms. Given competing enforcement demands and agencies' resource constraints, understanding how much enforcement is sufficient to deter drink driving is critical. APPROACH This systematic literature review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) guidelines to examine research about dosage effects of enforcement and related visibility on drink-driving outcomes, including motor vehicle crashes and fatalities. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Effective Practice and Organization of Care tool and the JBI checklist. KEY FINDINGS The 21 studies that met the inclusion criteria for this review differed in measures of enforcement dosage and outcomes, making it difficult to synthesise results across studies and draw conclusions about a threshold or optimal level of enforcement. Although most included studies found that sustained enforcement was associated with reductions in drink driving or related harms, only two studies tested an optimal dosage. Due to study design limitations, a substantial percentage of these studies must be considered with caution. IMPLICATIONS Additional research with rigorous study designs with appropriate controls is needed to determine an optimal high visibility enforcement dosage level to help law enforcement agencies make realistic decisions about allocating enforcement resources to address drink driving. CONCLUSION Consistent evidence about a drink-driving enforcement dosage threshold is lacking, partly due to an insufficient number of well-designed studies. Addressing challenges of conducting rigorous studies in community settings is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon E. O’Hara
- School of Public Health University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
- Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2150 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 601, Berkeley, CA 94704
| | - Mallie J. Paschall
- Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2150 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 601, Berkeley, CA 94704
| | - Denise Herd
- School of Public Health University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
- Othering and Belonging, Institute University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
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Phiri SC, Prescott MR, Prust ML, McCarthy EA, Kanchele CC, Haimbe P, Shakwelele H, Mudhune S. Impact of passenger engagement through road safety bus stickers in public service vehicles on road traffic crashes in Zambia: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:872. [PMID: 30005647 PMCID: PMC6043959 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5780-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) are the third highest cause of death in Zambia, claiming about 2000 lives annually, with pedestrians and cyclists being the most vulnerable. Human error accounts for 87.3% of RTCs. Minibus and big bus public service vehicles (PSVs) are among the common vehicle types involved in these crashes. Given the alarmingly high rate of road traffic crashes involving PSV minibuses and big buses within Zambia, there is a need to mitigate this through innovative solutions. In other settings, it has been shown that stickers in PSVs encouraging passengers to speak out against reckless driving can reduce RTCs, but it is unclear whether such an intervention could work in Zambia. Based on this evidence, the Zambia Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has developed a road safety bus sticker campaign for PSVs and before national scale-up, RTSA is interested in evidence of the impact of these stickers. Methods This evaluation will be a stratified two-arm randomized controlled trial with a one-to-one ratio. The sample will be stratified by vehicle type, thus creating a two-arm trial for minibuses and a separate two-arm trial for big buses. The sample will include 2110 minibuses and 300 big buses from four towns in Zambia. The primary outcome of interest will be the difference in the rate of RTCs over a 14-month period (7-months before the intervention and 7 months after) between buses with and without the new RTSA road safety bus stickers. Discussion This study will provide evidence on the impact of the Zambian sticker program on road traffic crashes as implemented through minibuses and big buses, that can help inform the scale up of a national ‘Zambia road safety bus sticker campaign’. Trial registration PACT-R, PACTR201711002758216. Registered 13 November 2017-Retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Prudence Haimbe
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, PO Box 51071, Ridgeway, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Hilda Shakwelele
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, PO Box 51071, Ridgeway, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Sandra Mudhune
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, PO Box 51071, Ridgeway, Lusaka, Zambia
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Maistros A, Schneider WH. A comparison of overtime patrol stops made inside and out of cluster identified hotspots. TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION 2018; 19:235-240. [PMID: 29190131 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2016.1211643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The annual rate of impaired driving crashes in the United States has remained nearly constant over the last decade. While engineers, educators, enforcement, and emergency response personnel have worked diligently in their combined efforts to reduce the loss of life, there is still significant progress to be made. One area of recent interest is the use of data driven enforcement. The basis for data driven enforcement is the use of statistical clustering to identify geographic areas that represent the location of problem identification for various criminal or traffic offenses. In the case of impaired driving fatalities, the clustering represents locations with high rates of impaired driving crashes. Law enforcement officers and supervisors may allocate resources towards more specifically and efficiently addressing problem areas. METHODS While data driven enforcement has been proven to be an effective tool in addressing crime and traffic safety problems, it has been a slow process for agencies to adopt data driven techniques. This study aims to explore the difference in traffic stops made inside and outside of hotspot identified areas. The study uses data from the Stark County Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force between 2013 and 2014. RESULTS The analysis determined that stop occurring in hotspot defined areas are more likely to result in impaired driving arrests and seatbelt citations. Additionally it is found that the average cost of impaired driving arrests is significantly cheaper for stops occurring inside of hotspot areas. CONCLUSION Clustering as a means of directing law enforcement efforts are a way to increase the productivity and benefits of law enforcement agencies with limited finances or personnel. From this study it is seen that traffic stops made within defined cluster or hot spot areas are more effective in resulting in OVI arrests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Maistros
- a Department of Civil Engineering , The University of Akron , Akron , Ohio
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Caldeira KM, Arria AM, Allen HK, Bugbee BA, Vincent KB, O’Grady KE. Continuity of drunk and drugged driving behaviors four years post-college. Drug Alcohol Depend 2017; 180:332-339. [PMID: 28950239 PMCID: PMC5648635 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Driving under the influence of alcohol is a leading cause of injury and premature death among young adults, and college-educated individuals are at particularly high risk. Less is known about driving under the influence of other drugs, which is on the rise. METHOD This study describes prospective seven-year trends in alcohol and other drug (AOD)-involved driving among a young-adult sample beginning with their second year of college (i.e., Years 2-8), and documents the extent of continuity in such behaviors across time. Originally recruited as incoming first-year students at one large public university, participants (n=1194) were interviewed annually about how frequently they drove while drunk/intoxicated (DWI), after drinking any alcohol (DAD), and/or while under the influence of other drugs (DD). Follow-up rates were high (>75% annually). RESULTS Among participants with access to drive a car, annual prevalence peaked in Year 4 (modal age 21) for both DWI (24.3%wt) and DD (19.1%wt) and declined significantly thereafter through Year 8 (both ps<0.05). DAD was far more prevalent than DWI or DD, increasing from 40.5%wt in Year 2 to 66.9%wt in Year 5, and plateauing thereafter. Among marijuana-using participants, likelihood of DD was consistently greater than the likelihood of DWI among Heavy Episodic and Light-to-Moderate drinkers, and it declined significantly during Years 5-8 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Post-college declines in heavy drinking and DWI prevalence were encouraging but did not necessarily translate to reductions in likelihood of engaging in DWI, depending on drinking pattern. College-educated individuals represent an important target for AOD-involved driving prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly M. Caldeira
- Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Amelia M. Arria
- Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Hannah K. Allen
- Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Brittany A. Bugbee
- Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kathryn B. Vincent
- Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 1234 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kevin E. O’Grady
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, 3109 Biology-Psychology Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Sloan FA, McCutchan SA, Eldred LM. Alcohol-Impaired Driving and Perceived Risks of Legal Consequences. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:432-442. [PMID: 28056493 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Driving while impaired (DWI) is a threat to public health. Codified legal sanctions are a widely implemented strategy to reduce DWI. However, it is unclear that sanctioning affects individual risk perceptions so as to deter alcohol-impaired driving. METHODS Using survey data collected from individual drivers, police, and defense attorneys specializing in DWI in 8 U.S. cities, we investigated whether risk perceptions about legal consequences for alcohol-impaired driving, both the risk of being stopped if driving while alcohol-impaired and receiving specific penalties following a DWI, deter alcohol-impaired driving. First, we analyzed how different drivers' risk perceptions about being pulled over and facing criminal sanctions related to their self-reported alcohol-impaired driving in the year following the interview at which risk perceptions were elicited. Second, using data from an experimental module in which individual's risk perceptions were randomly updated by the interview, we analyzed how each driver's beliefs about his or her own future alcohol-impaired driving responded to randomly generated increases in the apprehension probability and sanction magnitude. RESULTS Higher probabilities as estimated by the individuals of being pulled over corresponded to less alcohol-impaired driving in both analyses. Conversely, there was no statistical relationship between perceptions of criminal sanctions for DWI and alcohol-impaired driving with 1 exception-a small significant negative relationship between duration of jail time following a DWI conviction and alcohol-impaired driving. CONCLUSIONS Perceptions regarding the threat of being apprehended for alcohol-impaired driving were related to actual self-reported driving, while perceived sanctions following a DWI conviction for DWI generally were unrelated to either actual self-reported alcohol-impaired driving or the person's estimate of probability that he or she would drive while alcohol-impaired in the following year. Increasing certainty of apprehension by increasing police staffing and/or conducting sobriety checks is a more effective strategy for reducing alcohol-impaired driving than legislating increased penalties for DWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank A Sloan
- Department of Economics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Lindsey M Eldred
- Department of Economics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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Lenk KM, Nelson TF, Toomey TL, Jones-Webb R, Erickson DJ. Sobriety checkpoint and open container laws in the United States: Associations with reported drinking-driving. TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION 2016; 17:782-7. [PMID: 26983365 PMCID: PMC5584594 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2016.1161759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess how 2 types of drinking-driving laws-permitting sobriety checkpoints and prohibiting open containers of alcohol in motor vehicles-are associated with drinking-driving and how enforcement efforts may affect these associations. METHODS We obtained 2010 data on state-level drinking-driving laws and individual-level self-reported drinking-driving from archival sources (Alcohol Policy Information System, NHTSA, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System). We measured enforcement of the laws via a 2009 survey of state patrol agencies. We computed multilevel regression models (separate models for each type of law) that first examined how having the state law predicted drinking-driving, controlling for various state- and individual-level covariates; we then added the corresponding enforcement measure as another potential predictor. RESULTS We found that states with a sobriety checkpoint law, compared with those without a law, had 18.2% lower drinking-driving; states that conducted sobriety checks at least monthly (vs. not conducting checks) had 40.6% lower drinking-driving (the state law variable was not significant when enforcement was added). We found no significant association between having an open container law and drinking-driving, but states that conducted open container enforcement, regardless of having a law, had 17.6% less drinking-driving. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that having a sobriety checkpoint law and conducting checkpoints as well as enforcement of open containers laws may be effective strategies for addressing drinking-driving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Lenk
- a Division of Epidemiology and Community Health , School of Public Health, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota
| | - Toben F Nelson
- a Division of Epidemiology and Community Health , School of Public Health, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota
| | - Traci L Toomey
- a Division of Epidemiology and Community Health , School of Public Health, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota
| | - Rhonda Jones-Webb
- a Division of Epidemiology and Community Health , School of Public Health, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota
| | - Darin J Erickson
- a Division of Epidemiology and Community Health , School of Public Health, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota
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Yao J, Johnson MB, Tippetts S. Enforcement uniquely predicts reductions in alcohol-impaired crash fatalities. Addiction 2016; 111:448-53. [PMID: 26451697 DOI: 10.1111/add.13198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Alcohol-impaired driving contributes to more than 10 000 fatalities in the United States each year. This research estimated the unique effect of enforcement intensity on reductions in alcohol-impaired fatal crashes. DESIGN We collected data from 30 states (including the District of Columbia) that experienced the greatest changes in alcohol-impaired fatal crashes from 1996 to 2006. Mixed-model regression was used to examine the extent to which year-over-year changes in the intensity of impaired driving enforcement predicted year-over-year reductions of drivers killed in alcohol-involved fatal crashes. SETTING Data from 30 states were obtained online. PARTICIPANTS Aggregate state-level data from a total of 279 state-year combinations were analyzed. MEASURES Our dependent measure was the ratio of drivers involved in fatal crashes with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) ≥ 0.08 g/dl over drivers involved in fatal crashes with BACs = 0.00 g/dl. Per capita driving under the influence (DUI) arrests and traffic enforcement funding were the primary predictors. Covariates were estimated vehicle miles traveled (VMT); the proportional distributions of gender and racial/ethnic; geographic distribution; the proportion of drivers aged 21-34 years; median family income; and education level. FINDINGS Analysis revealed that DUI arrests per capita uniquely and significantly predicted reductions in the ratio of fatal crashes (β = -0.753, t(238) = 2.1, P < 0.05) after controlling the covariates. Exploratory analysis suggests the increase in arrest rates was associated with stronger reductions in urban versus rural settings. CONCLUSIONS Drunk driving enforcement intensity uniquely contributes to reductions in alcohol-impaired crash fatalities after controlling for other factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Yao
- Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Mark B Johnson
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Calverton, MD, USA
| | - Scott Tippetts
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Calverton, MD, USA
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