Evaluation of New Mexico's anti-driving while intoxicated efforts

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15254242000PDFResearch PaperLacey, John H.Jones, R. K. (Ralph K.)Mid-America Research InstituteUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Research and Traffic RecordsUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Research and Traffic RecordsNew MexicoDrunk drivingDrunk driversState lawsTraffic crashesFatalitiesBlood alcohol levelsImpact studiesCrash ratesTraffic law enforcementDWI enforcementDOT-HS-809-024NTIS-PB2000103327DTNH22-93-D-05018This study is an assessment of the effects of the introduction of omnibus anti-DWI legislation in New Mexico. Several changes to New Mexico's DWI laws were introduced in the later half of 1993 and the beginning of 1994. New Mexico further initiated an extensive statewide DWI checkpoint initiative in December 1993. Though the specific effect of each individual component on alcohol-related crashes could not be discerned because of multiple, simultaneous interventions, time series analyses indicated an overall reduction on the order of 19% in drunk driving fatal crashes (a crash where one of the involved- drivers had a BAC of. 10 or more) when the period December 1993 through 1995 is compared with January 1988 through November 1993. Crash trends in five neighboring states were examined as a comparison and no such reduction was observed. /Abstract from report summary page/129