Impaired Driving Subcommittee Impaired Driving Guidebook - NHTSA

LEADERSHIPall relevant stakeholders to develop a StrategicHighway Safety Plan (SHSP). Identify a key individual (e.g., state senator,member of Congress) who will champion lawenforcement efforts. Formally recognize thisperson’s efforts. Solicit local and county government leaders forsupport of law enforcement efforts. Consistentsupport of enforcement strategies will send aclear message that chiefs and sheriffs have thesupport of their government leaders.Photo courtesy of the New York State PoliceLikewise, governors, legislators, mayors, countymanagers, city managers, and local governingbodies have a major role in reshaping the publicperception of what is acceptable in theircommunities. At every opportunity, we must assistthem in developing and delivering a clear, consistentmessage: “Impaired driving is unacceptable.”The Highway Safety Committee, Impaired DrivingSubcommittee, supports the following actions inengaging our government leaders to address theimpaired driving problem: Contact the State’s Highway Safety Office; askthat current crash and enforcement data besent to various levels of governmental leadershipto establish baselines and benchmarks for stateand local governments. Announce statewide goals for active participationin enforcement campaigns thatcoincide with national initiatives and publicinformation and education programs. Work with your state chiefs’ and sheriffs’ associationsand highway safety offices to encouragestate legislatures to pass effective laws that arereasonable and enforceable.PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR TECHNOLOGYTechnological advancements have been madein both law enforcement and automotive safety inrecent years. A variety of automotive interlocksensors and other passive devices are currentlyunder development to prevent impaired drivers fromjeopardizing safety. Similarly, advances in fields ofmedicine, engineering, and micro-electronics holdgreat promise in eradicating impaired driving in thenear future. Law enforcement executives shouldsupport the development of these technologies toreduce or eliminate impaired driving in the future.Summing it up… Prioritize activities aimed at reducingimpaired driving. Deliver a clear and consistent messageof support and encouragement. Apply the “Fixing Broken Windows”strategy to traffic law enforcement. Use statistics to ensure that resources areapplied where they are needed most. Institute management and personnelaccountability. Create state, regional, and localimpaired driving enforcement taskforces to increase the visibility ofenforcement. Use standardized field sobriety testtraining as part of all post-mandatedcurricula. Support technology development. Institute award and recognition programs.10