Developing a Strategy for Reducing the Impact of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants in Portland, Oregon Christopher M. Monsere 1 and Delia S. Chi 2 Background In 2003, the City of Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) launched the Community and School Traffic Safety Partnership (CSTSP) in response to the strong public demand for services that protect neighborhoods from the negative impacts of traffic. It is a community-based, coalition-led effort to improve Portland’s traffic safety. In 2005, members on the CSTSP DUII Working Group, identified a need to become more familiar with national best practices to reduce impaired driving. Objective The purpose of this research was to provide DUII TAC members with the best available knowledge about the state of DUII-related crashes in Portland. The research intent was also to highlight best practices as found in the literature. Methodology Analysis of crash international, national, statewide, county, and city data Review international and national best practices Interview stakeholders in current Multnomah County and City of Portland DUII system. Synthesis of crash data, best practices, and current initiatives into potential strategies for improvement 1 Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Portland State University, 2 Graduate Research Assistant, Urban and Regional Planning, Portland State University Ranking the Potential Strategies for Reducing DUII Based on the data, review of best practices, and stakeholder interviews a matrix was developed to assist the DUII Working Group in determining a suitable strategy for reducing the impact of driving under the influence of intoxicants (drugs and alcohol) in Multnomah County and the City of Portland. Barriers and potential strategies are organized into three categories, prevention, enforcement and treatment categories. These categories pertain to target opportunities prior to, during, and following an impaired driving incident. For each identified possible strategy, a cost and effectiveness rank of low, medium, or high is assigned. The effectiveness ranking is based on the potential to reduce alcohol-related (or to some extent intoxicant-related) crashes. Crash reduction percentages are based on best practice research results. A “dotmocracy” effort is being conducted to rank the best strategies. Percent Change Since First Data Year in Total Number of Crashes / 100,000 persons Number of DUII Arrests (Oregon) Cost Ranking Grn- Low = less than $150,000 Ylw- Medium $ ,000 Red -High = over $300,00 Effectiveness Ranking (crash reduction) Red -Low = less than 10% Ylw- Medium = 5% to 10% Grn - High = over 10% Percentage of Impaired Drivers in a Fatal Alcohol-Involved Crash Alcohol-Involved Crashes City of Portland, Acknowledgements The research team thanks the Portland Office of Transportation and the DUII Working Group. The working group consists of representatives from Oregon Liquor Control Commission, Oregon Restaurant Association, Portland Department of Transportation, Trauma Nurses Talk Tough, Portland Police Bureau, Ride On Portland, Multnomah County Courthouse, Multnomah County DUII Rehabilitation Program, DUII Intensive Supervision Program, Department of Motor Vehicles, Portland State University, and others. Trends In the U.S., both the number and percent of total crashes that are alcohol- involved has not significantly changed since the early 1990s. Total Number DUII Offenses, Portland Fatality Rates of Alcohol Crashes per 100,000 Population, 2005 DUII Crash Trends and Patterns Multnomah County and Portland Compared to peer industrialized countries, the U.S. has not made as significant improvements in reducing the rate or alcohol-involved crashes per 100,000 population (a common measure for public health). The long-term trend shows the percent of fatal crashes that involve alcohol in Portland, Oregon is above the national average of 40 percent. Sample Matrix – See other poster This figure highlights that the most common time for an alcohol-involved crash is during the weekend early morning hours, with Saturday being the most common. Consistent with national data, the age groups are the most likely to be the impaired driver in a fatal crash. Perhaps not surprisingly, there are large number of arrests with BAC substantially above the per se legal limit of A slight increasing trend is noted. The long-term trend shows that the number of DUII events entering the system has changed little from In self-reported data to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, the winter months tend to have more DUII incidents than other months. Percent of Total Fatalities Total Alcohol-Related Fatalities In 2005, rural Oregon counties have higher per population rates. Note that the national average was 5.69 fatalities per 100,000 persons and the statewide average was 4.86 fatalities per 100,000 persons. The location of drinking establishments is spatially related to the occurrence of alcohol-involved crashes.