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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Impaired driving is a crisis that continues to exist in the
state of Georgia, and one that remains a constant variable in the rate
of severity of traffic crashes. According to the Georgia Department
of Public Safety, impaired drivers were involved in an average of 27
motor vehicle crashes each day in 1998. During the same year, the state
experienced 9,778 alcohol- or drug-related traffic crashes, resulting
in 8,359 injuries and 498 deaths.
Although past public education and enforcement initiatives in Georgia
have been successful in reducing impaired driving incidents, law enforcement
agencies have insufficient resources to maintain these high visibility
programs. In an effort to provide support for statewide enforcement
efforts, and provide a preventive tool to save more lives, the Georgia
Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) launched Operation Zero
Tolerance: You Drink & Drive. You Lose., a nationwide campaign
developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Operation Zero Tolerance: You Drink & Drive. You Lose.
was adopted in 2000, to reduce impaired driving-related motor vehicle
crash injuries and fatalities in Georgia. Specific objectives of the
program are as follows:
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Conduct 540 statewide sobriety checkpoints during 2000
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Solicit and maintain cooperative multi-jurisdictional law enforcement
efforts addressing impaired driving
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Encourage state-level, local and community involvement in the
program, as well as corporate sponsorship
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Develop and distribute news releases, advisories and fact sheets
to local and statewide media promoting sobriety checkpoints, arrest
results, campaign updates and events
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Secure media advertising to promote Operation Zero Tolerance,
on television, radio, newspapers and billboards
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Feature GOHS officials, including the director, in media interviews,
to help educate the public about the dangers of impaired driving
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Operation Zero Tolerance features weekly impaired driving
checkpoints carried out through high visibility, multi-jurisdictional
enforcement. Georgia law enforcement officials have strategically sectioned
the state into 15 traffic enforcement networks. These networks provide
the foundation for the program. Each network has a coordinator who ensures
concerted traffic enforcement within the region. Three Blood Alcohol
Testing Mobiles (BATMobiles) were purchased and placed in the northern,
central and southern portions of the state to assist in checkpoint activities.
Each Friday, media advisories are distributed regarding scheduled checkpoints
in various parts of the state, with follow-up results released each
Monday. Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to initiate local public
relations functions during the week between weekend checkpoints. This
helps increase public awareness of the risks of impaired driving, and
fosters relationships between local agencies in the respective communities
they serve.
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