Drinking and driving prevention in the community: program planning and implementation.

This paper describes the rationale, development and implementation of the Drinking and Driving Component, which is one of five components of the Community Trials Project conducted by the Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, California (USA). It traces the background of drunk driving enforcement technology and practice against which the programs at the three sites were implemented. A conceptual model for the enforcement component of a comprehensive community alcohol-related trauma project is presented and its implementation at the three sites is described. Limitations in the available police department resources delayed the implementation of local programs. Media advocacy tied to specific operations proved to be successful in publicizing sensors and sobriety checkpoints were only partially accepted. Overall, the community trials sites increased or held steady their arrest rates in contrast to the comparison sites where DUI arrests declined.