Operation DWI/OBD Evaluation Project NEW MEXICO

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

In 1993, New Mexico had the highest motor vehicle crash fatality rate in the nation, 26.7 per 100,000 population. This rate was nearly twice the national rate of 15.6 per 100,000 population. Impaired driving is a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with New Mexico's motor vehicle crashes. Beginning in 1993, a massive legislative effort was undertaken to improve Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) laws in the state. This effort resulted in lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers to .08, implementation of a zero-tolerance level for underage driving, significant increase of alcohol excise taxes, mandated server training, and stiffened penalties. To augment these initiatives, the New Mexico Traffic Safety Bureau (NM TSB) used grant resources to implement a statewide sobriety checkpoint program and to promote the message of safe and sober driving further.

In addition to the DWI problem, lack of occupant protection contributed to New Mexico's motor vehicle crash injury and fatality rate. Although the state's 70 percent seat belt use rate was higher than the national average, 61 percent of traffic victims in fatal crashes remained unbelted. This is higher than the 55.4 percent national average for unbelted fatal crash victims. Increased use rates would lower serious injuries and reduce fatalities.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goals of the Operation DWI/OBD (Operation Buckle Down) Evaluation program are to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by DWI, and to increase use of seat belts and child safety seats. Specific objectives include:

Reducing the number of people killed annually in DWI crashes to 180 by 1997

Increasing seat belt use from 70 percent to 80 percent

Operation DWI/OBD Evaluation Project (cont'd)

Evaluating the impact and success of the Operation DWI and OBD programs

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

Operation DWI activities, which were conducted 6 times each year, consisted of 75 to 100 sobriety checkpoints during a two-week period. Each two-week period was accompanied by an extensive pre- and post-blitz public information campaign, including radio and television spots, public service announcements, and direct mailings. In addition, District Highway Engineers, in cooperation with the NM TSB, posted 250 roadside signs announcing the sobriety checkpoints. After each checkpoint was completed, NM TSB disseminated information on the impact of the high-visibility operations. OBD consisted of a series of police saturation patrol activities accompanied by public information waves. These were conducted through local Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs (STEPs) in the months in which Operation DWI blitzes were not held. Each of the saturation patrol activities lasted about 10 days.

The evaluation element of the project involved assessing a variety of impact measures including crash data, surveys, alcohol pricing index, tabulation of print media, use of safe rides and others. Techniques included interrupted time series analyses, chi-square tests, and focus groups.

RESULTS

Preliminary data shows that during blitz months, DWI fatalities declined 24.6 percent from the baseline period. During off-months, the decline was 9.7 percent. Initial results indicate that the goal of reducing the number of annual DWI crash fatalities to 180 by 1997 is likely. The months with the most newspaper coverage generally had lower DWI crash totals. Excise taxes on beer and liquor were doubled during the project, but effects on consumption are not yet clear. Observational surveys indicate that safety belt use increased from 70 percent in December 1993 to 86 percent in September 1995, meeting the program's long-range goal. This followed OBD STEP activity that produced 5,300 to 6,500 citations per blitz period. Cities with increased enforcement observed higher use rates.

The evaluation recommended that checkpoint programs be marketed as a means to convince the public that the likelihood of apprehension for DWI is high; and that additional tactics, such as passive breath testers, be considered.