PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Aiken County, located in the midwest region of South Carolina, is the second largest county in the state. It is home to major industry, as well as many high profile cultural events, and contains an interstate highway system that extends the length of the county. During the three year period from 1996 to 1998, Aiken County experienced a dramatic increase in motor vehicle crash injuries and fatalities, reaching a record high of 50 crash fatalities in 1998. During that same year, alcohol and/or other drugs were determined to be a probable cause in 143 traffic crashes, resulting in 6 deaths and 98 injuries, and speeding accounted for 32 percent of all reported crashes. Prior to 1999, traffic enforcement in Aiken County was infrequent, and manpower restraints impeded any proactive traffic safety programs in the county's unincorporated areas. Traffic safety officials in Aiken County identified an acute need for aggressive educational programs and increased traffic enforcement levels, to address serious traffic safety issues throughout the county.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In an effort to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes countywide, the Aiken County Sheriff's Office developed the Alcohol Enforcement Program in 1999. Primary objectives of the program are to:

• Create a three-person Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) within the Sheriff's Office
• Increase the number of impaired driving arrests to an annual minimum of 83
• Issue at least 440 speeding citations annually
• Conduct a minimum of 16 public safety checkpoints each year
• Design and implement special highway safety-related enforcement and impaired driving educational activities
• Issue monthly press releases discussing the progress of the Alcohol Enforcement Program
• Conduct at least 15 educational presentations on the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and other unsafe traffic practices by September 30, 1999

To help educate county residents about the dangers of drinking and driving, the TEU planned and conducted presentations for a variety of audiences, including schools, churches and local businesses. Educational activities, such as demonstrations involving impairment goggles and a golf cart, were used to simulate the effects of alcohol on driving skills. Child safety seat clinics were also conducted to educate the public about how to properly buckle up children traveling in a motor vehicle. TEU officers contacted television and news media on a regular basis, to keep the public informed about Alcohol Enforcement Program activities.

RESULTS
Although the Aiken County Sheriff's Office initially encountered opposition from local residents and the county government, the media was very receptive to the program, offering positive coverage, which helped to gain the public's support. Program accomplishments during 1999 included the following:

• TEU officers made a total of 96 impaired driving arrests, and issued 968 speeding violations
• A total of 18 sobriety checkpoints were conducted, including multi-jurisdictional checkpoints with state and local agencies. Several of these checkpoints were held in conjunction with Buckle Up America Week and Child Passenger Safety Week
• More than 1,000 county residents attended 25 educational presentations
• Traffic crashes in Aiken County decreased by 9 percent in 1999
• Traffic crashes with a probable cause of alcohol or other drugs decreased by 15 percent in 1999

FALL 2000