This study found that the Extra Eyes program is perceived by the program participants as beneficial as it served to motivate and intensify enforcement productivity, the original intent of the program. Public awareness and survey data, arrest statistics, and alcohol-related crash trends did not indicate reductions in impaired-driving activity or crashes. This may have occurred because of a number of factors: (1) the program was in partial implementation before its formal kick-off and thus a clear-cut initiation point was absent, (2) the program was relatively small compared to the geographical and population size of Montgomery County, and (3) there was no concerted publicity effort launched to enhance the deterrence potential of the enforcement program. The Extra Eyes program appears to have met its goal of motivating officers and enlisting volunteers for the detection of impaired drivers. To enhance the potential of similar programs, it may be necessary to increase the public’s awareness of the additional “eyes” looking for impaired drivers. This type of general deterrence strategy could reduce the number of individuals driving impaired. (Author/publisher)
Abstract