Optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costs
Abstract Background Sobriety checkpoints are a highly effective strategy to reduce alcohol-impaired driving, but they are used infrequently in the USA. Recent evidence from observational studies suggests that using optimized sobriety checkpoints—operating for shorter duration with fewer officers—can...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Injury Epidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00427-8 |
| _version_ | 1797865920119439360 |
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| author | Christopher N. Morrison Ariana N. Gobaud Christina A. Mehranbod Brady R. Bushover Charles C. Branas Douglas J. Wiebe Corinne Peek-Asa Qixuan Chen Jason Ferris |
| author_facet | Christopher N. Morrison Ariana N. Gobaud Christina A. Mehranbod Brady R. Bushover Charles C. Branas Douglas J. Wiebe Corinne Peek-Asa Qixuan Chen Jason Ferris |
| author_sort | Christopher N. Morrison |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Sobriety checkpoints are a highly effective strategy to reduce alcohol-impaired driving, but they are used infrequently in the USA. Recent evidence from observational studies suggests that using optimized sobriety checkpoints—operating for shorter duration with fewer officers—can minimize operational costs without reducing public health benefits. The aim of this research was to conduct a pilot study to test whether police can feasibly implement optimized sobriety checkpoints and whether researchers can examine optimized sobriety checkpoints compared to usual practice within a non-randomized controlled trial study design. Methods The study site was the Town of Apex, NC. We worked with Apex Police Department to develop a schedule of sobriety checkpoints during calendar year 2021 that comprised 2 control checkpoints (conducted according to routine practice) and 4 optimized checkpoints staffed by fewer officers. Our primary operations aim was to test whether police can feasibly implement optimized sobriety checkpoints. Our primary research aim was to identify barriers and facilitators for conducting an intervention study of optimized sobriety checkpoints compared to usual practice. A secondary aim was to assess motorist support for sobriety checkpoints and momentary stress while passing through checkpoints. Results Apex PD conducted 5 of the 6 checkpoints and reported similar operational capabilities and results during the optimized checkpoints compared to control checkpoints. For example, a mean of 4 drivers were investigated for possibly driving while impaired at the optimized checkpoints, compared to 2 drivers at control checkpoints. The field team conducted intercept surveys among 112 motorists at 4 of the 6 checkpoints in the trial schedule. The survey response rate was 11% from among 1,045 motorists who passed through these checkpoints. Over 90% of respondents supported sobriety checkpoints, and momentary stress during checkpoints was greater for motorists who reported consuming any alcohol in the last 90 days compared to nondrinkers (OR = 6.7, 95%CI: 1.6, 27.1). Conclusions Results of this study indicate the sobriety checkpoints can feasibly be optimized by municipal police departments, but it will be very difficult to assess the impacts of optimized checkpoints compared to usual practice using an experimental study design. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:15:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2e6e0a049794ec5a8cc3eee80b74858 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-1714 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:15:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Injury Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2e6e0a049794ec5a8cc3eee80b748582023-03-22T10:02:06ZengBMCInjury Epidemiology2197-17142023-03-0110111110.1186/s40621-023-00427-8Optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costsChristopher N. Morrison0Ariana N. Gobaud1Christina A. Mehranbod2Brady R. Bushover3Charles C. Branas4Douglas J. Wiebe5Corinne Peek-Asa6Qixuan Chen7Jason Ferris8Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of MichiganOffice of Research Affairs, University of California San DiegoDepartment of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityCentre for Health Services Research, The University of QueenslandAbstract Background Sobriety checkpoints are a highly effective strategy to reduce alcohol-impaired driving, but they are used infrequently in the USA. Recent evidence from observational studies suggests that using optimized sobriety checkpoints—operating for shorter duration with fewer officers—can minimize operational costs without reducing public health benefits. The aim of this research was to conduct a pilot study to test whether police can feasibly implement optimized sobriety checkpoints and whether researchers can examine optimized sobriety checkpoints compared to usual practice within a non-randomized controlled trial study design. Methods The study site was the Town of Apex, NC. We worked with Apex Police Department to develop a schedule of sobriety checkpoints during calendar year 2021 that comprised 2 control checkpoints (conducted according to routine practice) and 4 optimized checkpoints staffed by fewer officers. Our primary operations aim was to test whether police can feasibly implement optimized sobriety checkpoints. Our primary research aim was to identify barriers and facilitators for conducting an intervention study of optimized sobriety checkpoints compared to usual practice. A secondary aim was to assess motorist support for sobriety checkpoints and momentary stress while passing through checkpoints. Results Apex PD conducted 5 of the 6 checkpoints and reported similar operational capabilities and results during the optimized checkpoints compared to control checkpoints. For example, a mean of 4 drivers were investigated for possibly driving while impaired at the optimized checkpoints, compared to 2 drivers at control checkpoints. The field team conducted intercept surveys among 112 motorists at 4 of the 6 checkpoints in the trial schedule. The survey response rate was 11% from among 1,045 motorists who passed through these checkpoints. Over 90% of respondents supported sobriety checkpoints, and momentary stress during checkpoints was greater for motorists who reported consuming any alcohol in the last 90 days compared to nondrinkers (OR = 6.7, 95%CI: 1.6, 27.1). Conclusions Results of this study indicate the sobriety checkpoints can feasibly be optimized by municipal police departments, but it will be very difficult to assess the impacts of optimized checkpoints compared to usual practice using an experimental study design.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00427-8Drunk drivingSobriety checkpointsOptimizationInterventionAlcohol |
| spellingShingle | Christopher N. Morrison Ariana N. Gobaud Christina A. Mehranbod Brady R. Bushover Charles C. Branas Douglas J. Wiebe Corinne Peek-Asa Qixuan Chen Jason Ferris Optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costs Injury Epidemiology Drunk driving Sobriety checkpoints Optimization Intervention Alcohol |
| title | Optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costs |
| title_full | Optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costs |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costs |
| title_short | Optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costs |
| title_sort | optimizing sobriety checkpoints to maximize public health benefits and minimize operational costs |
| topic | Drunk driving Sobriety checkpoints Optimization Intervention Alcohol |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00427-8 |
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