NCJ Number
64081
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 59-64
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS ESSAY EXAMINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROGRAM (ASAP) IN PREVENTING ALCOHOL-RELATED TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.
Abstract
TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN APPREHENDING DRUNKEN DRIVERS AND REDUCE THE ACCIDENT RATE, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SET UP 35 PILOT PROJECTS FROM 1971 TO 1978. THROUGH ASAP, FEDERAL FUNDS WERE USED TO SET UP COORDINATED SYSTEMS TO FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM; THESE INCLUDED HIRING OF EXTRA POLICE AND PROSECUTORS AND PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE THOSE ARRESTED WITH EDUCATION OR TREATMENT NEEDED TO AVOID REARREST. ONE GOAL OF ASAP WAS TO ENCOURAGE STATES TO TAKE OVER WHEN THE FEDERAL PROJECT ENDED. IN MOST STATES SOME ASPECTS HAVE BEEN RETAINED. DETAILS OF FOLLOWUP PROJECTS IN PORTLAND, OREG., NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y., PHOENIX, ARIZ., LINCOLN, NEB., AND SEVERAL MINNESOTA CITIES WERE GIVEN. THE ARTICLE FOCUSES ON RESULTS IN SEVERAL IOWA CITIES AND ARLINGTON, VA., WHICH HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST APPREHENSION RATES IN THE STATE. BREATH-TESTING DEVICES HAVE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ALCOHOL PROGRAMS IN ARLINGTON AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. INCREASED AWARENESS ON THE PART OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAS MEANT CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON ARRESTS OF DRUNK DRIVERS. SUCCESS HAS BEEN MORE PRONOUNCED IN URBAN AREAS. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)