[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7494-7495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4059]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-133, Notice 01]
Development of Improved Driver Interview Procedures for Police
Use at Checkpoints
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments on Data Collection.
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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
plays a key role in the national effort to reduce alcohol related
traffic injuries and deaths. One way the enforcement community has
tried to combat this problem is by conducting sobriety checkpoints;
however, there is evidence that many of the impaired drivers passing
through these checkpoints are not detected by police. One component of
this study is the observation by researchers of customary police
interviewing practices at sobriety checkpoints. Behaviors and cues of
interviewed drivers will be linked to their breath alcohol levels to
develop more effective screening procedures. Breath samples will be
obtained only from drivers who volunteer to participate in this study.
Current data on the best ways to improve driver interviews by police at
checkpoints do not exist. NHTSA invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment the proposed data collection as required by
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATE: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 21, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to NHTSA, Docket Section, Room
5111, Docket #96-133, Notice 01, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC
20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marvin M. Levy, Ph.D., Contracting
Officer's Technical Representative, Office of Research and Traffic
Records (NTS-31), Washington, DC 20590, Phone Number (202) 366-5597.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
Alcohol related traffic fatalities rose to 17,274 in 1995, 41
percent of all traffic fatalities for the year. NHTSA is committed to
the development of effective programs to reduce the number of deaths
and injuries related to alcohol-impaired driving. Among the law
enforcement activities aimed at reducing drunk driving, sobriety
checkpoints can act both as a specific deterrent, by apprehending
impaired drivers passing through the checkpoint, and a general
deterrent, by encouraging motorists not to drive after drinking. The
success of sobriety checkpoints as a deterrent depends to a large
extent on the perception of drivers that they will be caught if they
have been drinking. However, past research suggests that many impaired
drivers are not being detected by police at checkpoints. If drivers
conclude that they may not be detected, then the effectiveness of this
enforcement approach may decline. There is some evidence that police
interview procedures can be improved, for impaired drivers who are
stopped and still seated in their vehicle, when police use a procedure
employing eye gaze nystagmus. Other cues or combination of cues may
also result in improved detection rates.
The objective of this study is to develop and test an improved set
of checkpoint interview procedures that police may use to detect more
effectively drivers who are at illegal blood alcohol concentrations
[BACs].
II. Method of Data Collection
Data will be collected voluntarily at two separate sites in
cooperating police jurisdictions during regularly scheduled checkpoint
operations. To examine the effectiveness of cues and procedures that
officers can use to detect drivers at illegal BACs, researchers will
accompany officers while they are conducting routine driver interviews.
Researchers will observe what the police do, by listening to the kinds
of questions they ask and what motorists say in response to police
inquiries, and how the drivers behave. Also, drivers will be observed
for visual and other cues or signs indicative of alcohol consumption.
For those drivers who have been permitted to proceed, a researcher,
located downstream of the inteviewing officer, will ask the driver to
consent to blow into a device that measures the driver's breath
alcohol. Each motorist will be assured of confidentiality. No
identifiers, such as names, addresses, or license plate numbers, will
be obtained regardless of whether or not the motorist agrees to
cooperate. Also, no information about the results from breath alcohol
testing will be provided to the police. No survey questions will be
asked of drivers. The researchers will be using portable non-
evidentiary quality ``screening devices'' to measure BAC. In the event
that a driver who may be at an illegal BAC is identified, he or she
will be informed of the BAC findings and provided with suggested
remedies such as having a sober passenger drive, or taking a cab
provided by the researchers.
III. Use of the Findings
The findings from researcher observations of checkpoint operations
will help determine whether further development of an improved battery
of police interview procedures is warranted. If the results are
positive, a field test will be conducted as part of this study to
determine whether the new procedures are an improvement over those
customarily used by police to detect drivers at illegal BACs. Should
the findings from the field test be successful, a police training
package, containing the improved procedures, will be developed and
disseminated to police agencies.
Improved interview procedures will help police officers at
checkpoints make more accurate decisions regarding which drivers should
or should not be detained for further sobriety testing.
[[Page 7495]]
This should increase the efficiency of checkpoint operations. Such
improvements should also heighten the public's perception of being
apprehended for drunk driving at sobriety checkpoints.
IV. Data
OMB Number: None.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular Submission.
Affected Public: Drivers who are stopped at two sobriety checkpoint
operations in one community and who are asked to voluntarily provide an
alcohol breath sample.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,500 drivers.
Estimated Time per Respondent: One minute per respondent.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 25 hours.
Estimated Cost per Respondent: $33.75.
V. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) The need for the proposed collection
and the uses of the data to meet the objectives of the study; (b) the
information that should be obtained from observations of the drivers
and officers; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of
the information collected;
(d) the accuracy of the burden estimate, and (e) ways to minimize
the burden of the collection of the information an the respondents.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection. Copies of all comments will be placed in Docket 96-133,
Notice 1, in the NHTSA Docket Section in Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street
SW Washington D.C. 20590 and will become a matter of public record.
James H. Hedlund,
Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-4059 Filed 2-18-97; 8:45 am]
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