PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

During the last five years, Florence County has been one of the ten counties experiencing the highest reported alcohol-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Drivers between the ages of 15-34 were involved in the greatest number of alcohol-related crashes. According to data from the Florence Police Department, from 1995 to 1997, a total of 455 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests were made. Only 14 percent of those arrests resulted in convictions. Based on preliminary statistics from the State Law Enforcement Division, Florence County law enforcement officers made 479 DUI arrests in 1999.

Many young drivers between the ages of 15-34 are unaware of the effects that alcohol has on driving ability and the consequences of driving while impaired. Additionally, there are also many prosecutors and judges who are not fully aware of current alcohol abuse strategies and newly developed DUI enforcement techniques. Many law enforcement officials are unaware of guidelines for conducting public safety checkpoints, do not have access to state-of-the art detection devices, and do not understand how to utilize such devices for DUI detection. The Florence County Commission on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse has neither the required staff or resources to provide the necessary ongoing training, education, detection devices, and media advocacy to significantly affect DUI statistics.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goals of the Youth DUI Reduction Project were to:

• Reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities in Florence County by five percent annually;

• Deliver a minimum of two training courses on DUI detection and prosecution to a minimum of 60 Florence County based law enforcement officers;

• Implement an agreement with each Florence County law enforcement agency to increase DUI detection; and

• Launch a media campaign on DUI detection and underage drinking.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

The Florence County Commission on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse hired a Prevention Education Specialist and an administrative assistant to implement this project. The project staff provided law enforcement officers with 20 Passive Alcohol Sensors (PAS) and training to conduct public safety checkpoints. The Passive Alcohol Sensors and applicable operational training was provided to every law enforcement agency in Florence County. Also, the project staff hired a contractor to educate officers in DUI Trial Training. The staff also launched a media campaign about the DUI reduction project, and developed public service announcements (PSAs) about “Zero Tolerance” for drinking and driving.

RESULTS

• During Fiscal Year (FY) 1999, there were 89 alcohol-related collisions (seven percent less than the 96 alcohol related collisions in FY 1998).

• During FY 1999 there were 43 alcohol-related injury collisions (four percent less than the 45 alcohol-related injury collisions in FY 1998).

• Although the number of total alcohol-related collisions and alcohol-related injury collisions decreased, the number of alcohol-related fatal collisions increased. During FY 1999, Florence County experienced two alcohol-related fatal collisions (one more than in the previous year).

• The Florence County Commission on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse has established and maintained strong relationships with law enforcement agencies throughout the county.

• Every law enforcement agency in Florence County was issued 20 Passive Alcohol Sensors to aid them in DUI detection. These agencies have agreed to conduct public safety checkpoints, report monthly figures on check points, participate in the DUI Task Force, and remain a very visible part of DUI reduction efforts throughout Florence County.

   SPRING 2002