A description is given of the Community Trial undertaken in 3 experimental communities in the United States between 1992-96 to reduce alcohol-related road accidents. The programme comprises 5 components and it is the drinking and driving component that is examined in this paper. This included 3 elements - a) police utilization of novel, high visibility enforcement methods, b) citizen support for policy to carry out these activities and c) a local news effort to enhance the impact of enforcement. Details are given of how these aspects were carried out. Data collected concerning road accidents were analysed. The results show that the increased media and enforcement efforts resulted in a higher perceived risk of arrest and that this yielded lower self-reported drinking and driving. Overall, it could be seen that the drinking and driving component of the trial had produced statistically significant traffic crash reductions.
Abstract