research >>DUI (Alcohol-involved) crashes
Completed
Using GIS to Identify Clusters of DUI Crashes
The Traffic Safety Center provided technical assistance to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in identifying clusters of DUI crashes using GIS (geographic information systems)-based maps. The 15-month project, begun in early 2004, included collecting and analyzing data in order to determine how the problem is expected to change during the next five to 10 years.
Some findings about DUI crashes:
- rural counties have the highest rates;
- DUI crashes have different characteristics in terms of type of crash, typical driver behavior and the conditions under which they commonly occur;
- by 2008, DUI crash fatalities will rise approximately 10 percent, or by an additional 500 deaths per year in California;
- 162 zones across the state have an unusually high density of DUI crashes, as do 77 corridors.
TSC Resources
"Zeroing in on Drinking-Driving, Mapping, Data Analysis, and Surveys to Help Highlight Problems and Reduce Risks." TSC Newsletter, Winter 2005-06.
in progress
Advising the CHP on Education and Enforcement
As part of the project to identify clusters of DUI crashes, two counties, one in northern California and one in southern California, were selected to be targets of anti-DUI campaigns. The TSC is helping the CHP with assessing optimal enforcement and education campaigns and answering questions like "Why do DUI issues sometimes drop from public attention?" and "How can interest be restored?"
Identifying Factors Contributing to DUI
The TSC is also charged with further understanding the factors that contribute most to rises in alcohol-involved collisions and developing a more detailed picture of the victims. The TSC is considering an attitudinal survey to identify beliefs, habits, and dispositions of drinking drivers regarding perceived danger, laws and penalties, knowledge of past campaigns, and motivating factors for compliance.