|
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In Colorado, during
the months of July and August, law enforcement officers report
the highest number of alcohol-related traffic crash fatalities.
During these months, the greatest number of alcohol-related traffic
crashes and fatalities occur on Friday nights, with numbers recorded
on Saturday nights following closely.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the
Hot Friday Nights program was to decrease fatalities and injuries
sustained as a result of alcohol-related traffic crashes. Objectives
of the program included:
- Intensify Driving
Under the Influence (DUI) enforcement efforts on Friday nights
in July and August
- Increase DUI arrests
- Promote public
awareness regarding drinking and driving
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
In Denver on June
30, 1998, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and
law enforcement agencies from around the state initiated CDOT's
new Hot Friday Nights program with a twilight news conference,
featuring a fireworks display depicting the program's logo. The
primary strategy employed by CDOT for implementation of the new
program was an intensive DUI enforcement effort conducted on
nine Friday nights during July and August. Several activities
were key to the success of the program:
- CDOT obtained support
from several high-profile corporate sponsors. The local affiliate
of a major television network and one of the leading national
insurance companies supported the enforcement activities of the
campaign, through sponsorship of hard-hitting, prime-time television
commercials demonstrating the tragic consequences of drinking
and driving
- The Colorado bottlers
for a leading national soft drink company underwrote the logistical
components of the program with a substantial cash gift. In addition,
coupons for a free 20 ounce bottle of the soft drink were provided
to law enforcement officers for distribution to sober drivers
- Each week preceding
a Hot Friday Nights event, CDOT and law enforcement representatives
conducted a news conference, media tour, or media event in a
pre- selected region of the state. Then on Friday night, the
targeted region became the focus of an intensive DUI media campaign
and enforcement effort
- Each Friday night
throughout the campaign, enforcement agencies statewide were
staffed overtime for conducting saturation patrols, sobriety
checkpoints and large, multi- jurisdictional DUI patrols
- Every Saturday
morning after a Hot Friday Nights campaign, law enforcement agencies
reported the results of their activities to CDOT, which then
released the information to the media in the targeted region.
Officers and troopers were available on Saturdays for media interviews
- Polo shirts and
coffee mugs with the Hot Friday Nights logo were presented to
officers and troopers to thank them for their participation
|
