Evaluation of Innovative State and Community Alcohol Projects: Breath Alcohol Testing Program Effectiveness, Impact and Transferability

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15252501987PDFResearch PaperWoods, Brian D.University of New Mexico. Division of Government ResearchUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Contracts and ProcurementUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNew MexicoUnited StatesAlcohol breath testsDrunk drivingTraffic law enforcementTime series analysisImpact studiesDOT-HS-807-124NTIS-PB87207551DTNH22-84-C-05051Final reportBreath Alcohol Testing (BAT) programs in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico are evaluated in regard to effectiveness, impact, and transferability of the special DWI enforcement squads and their use of BAT Mobiles. Squad activity effectiveness is measured with DWI arrests. Univarite time series analysis verifies that department DWI arrests generally double. Crashes are analyzed for impacts resulting from the BAT programs. Multiple time series analysis applied to Wednesday through Saturday Night (7:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m.) Fatal and Injury (WSNFI) crashes, their complements and comparison series, crashes per travel exposure measured by fuel sales, show many impact forms. Albquerque WSNFI abruptly fell 21 percent three months into BAT programs operations and gradually approach a 69 percent reduction or greater if the overall 1 percent per month trend continues. The repeat of the BAT program effectiveness and impact in Santa Fe implies concept transferability. /Abstract from report summary page/129