CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Sobriety Checkpoints
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Publicized sobriety checkpoint programs are a form of high visibility enforcement where law enforcement officers stop drivers systematically to assess whether they are alcohol-impaired. Media efforts are critical to publicize programs. The program goal is to reduce alcohol-impaired driving by increasing the public's perceived risk of arrest while also arresting alcohol-impaired drivers identified at checkpoints.
There are two types of sobriety checkpoints:
-Selective Breath Testing (SBT) - police must have reason to suspect that a stopped driver is intoxicated before a breath test can be requested. SBT is used in the United States.
-Random Breath Testing (RBT) – all stopped drivers are given breath tests for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. RBT is used in Australia and several European countries.
There are two types of sobriety checkpoints:
-Selective Breath Testing (SBT) - police must have reason to suspect that a stopped driver is intoxicated before a breath test can be requested. SBT is used in the United States.
-Random Breath Testing (RBT) – all stopped drivers are given breath tests for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. RBT is used in Australia and several European countries.
Impact
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends publicized sobriety checkpoint programs to reduce alcohol-impaired driving.
Results / Accomplishments
Fourteen studies evaluated programs conducted in the United States with selective breath testing.
-Crash fatalities thought to involve alcohol decreased by a median of 8.9% (10 studies).
-One study reported a relative decrease of 14% in the ratio of alcohol-involved drivers to non-alcohol-involved drivers in fatal crashes.
-One study reported a relative decrease of 18.8% in the number of fatal and non-fatal crashes thought to involve alcohol (1 study).
-The number of drivers with a BAC level above the legal limit had relative decreases of 28% and 64% (2 studies).
-The percentage of people in intervention communities who had seen or heard messages about drinking and driving or sobriety checkpoints increased by 3.4% to 31.9% (5 studies).
One study evaluated a program conducted in New Zealand with random breath testing.
-The number of serious and fatal nighttime crashes, which serve as a proxy for alcohol-involved fatal crashes, showed a relative decrease of 22.1%.
-Crash fatalities thought to involve alcohol decreased by a median of 8.9% (10 studies).
-One study reported a relative decrease of 14% in the ratio of alcohol-involved drivers to non-alcohol-involved drivers in fatal crashes.
-One study reported a relative decrease of 18.8% in the number of fatal and non-fatal crashes thought to involve alcohol (1 study).
-The number of drivers with a BAC level above the legal limit had relative decreases of 28% and 64% (2 studies).
-The percentage of people in intervention communities who had seen or heard messages about drinking and driving or sobriety checkpoints increased by 3.4% to 31.9% (5 studies).
One study evaluated a program conducted in New Zealand with random breath testing.
-The number of serious and fatal nighttime crashes, which serve as a proxy for alcohol-involved fatal crashes, showed a relative decrease of 22.1%.
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Community / Governance
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Community / Governance
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults