Citation

Pierce J, Hieatt D, Goodstadt M, Lonero M. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1974; 1974: 869-879.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Through the use of a pre-post-test control group design we have been able to arrive at some valid assessments of the effectiveness of the different components of our drinking-driving campaign. There was some measure of success. The campaign was effective in increasing the number of people who reported not driving home when they were drunk; it informed people of the maximum legal blood alcohol level, and that jail was a possible penalty of drinking and driving; and it increased the number of conversations about drinking and driving. By using two groups of 9 cities each, distributed over the most highly populated areas of Ontario, we managed to avoid the problem of historical and seasonal effects which often plague evaluative attempts. Other aspects of our particular pre-test/post-test control group design eliminated the common problems of pre-test sensitization, instrumentation effects, and lack of homogeneity among survey samples. The success attained in developing effective traffic safety programs may depend on whether or not the concerned agencies integrate this type of research design with their countermeasure programs. Once we are able to exchange valid assessments of the effectiveness of our safety programs and their components, then we may make definite progress towards eliminating the traffic hazards presented by improper driver behavior. /Author/