III. PROGRAM SUMMARY

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds programs that address the problems of drunk and drugged driving and prevention programs targeting zero tolerance for alcohol and drug use among youth. The Agency's drug control programs are listed below by the National Drug Control Strategy Goal they support.

• Youth Alcohol Programs. NHTSA will continue to emphasize programs for youth. While drinking and driving has decreased faster for youth than for adults, drivers under 21 are still over-involved in alcohol related crashes. Data also indicate that low blood alcohol content (BAC) teenage crashes are actually increasing. Extensive evidence demonstrates that both alcohol sale and drinking while driving laws are not well enforced for youth. The Agency will continue to encourage states to pass "zero tolerance" legislation for youth and will assist states and communities in the training of police officers, prosecutors, and judges in the enforcement of traffic and drinking laws pertaining to youth.



• Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC). The central purpose of this program is to assist states with drugged driving programs and to institutionalize DEC technical assistance to law enforcement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The main goal of DEC is to increase the number of participating states to maintain a national prevention infrastructure.



• Highway Traffic Safety Grants. State and local governments are key partners in working toward NHTSA's goal to reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Federal aid to states and communities is available to assist in this effort. Through Section 402 of the Highway Safety Act (the State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program) and Section 410 of the Highway Safety Act (the Alcohol-Impaired Driving Countermeasures Grant Program), funds are provided to states to prevent drugged and drunk driving through education, public information, and enforcement. Elements of this program directed toward youth populations support Goal 1 of the National Drug Control Strategy.

• Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC). The law enforcement aspects of DEC support Goal 2 of the National Drug Control Strategy in providing the needed support to law enforcement officers involved with the program. By institutionalizing DEC through the IACP, the effectiveness of law enforcement will be enhanced by targeting drug impairment. An expanded framework of judicial and adjudication partners will be developed to assist in breaking the cycle of impaired driving among all ages.



• Highway Safety Research. This program provides funding for drug-related activities. The primary focus of the alcohol and drug research program is to identify specific target groups and develop associated countermeasure programs aimed at these populations. Research is also conducted to improve methods for police enforcement of drugged driving laws.



• Highway Traffic Safety Grants. In addition to supporting Goal 1, as described above, elements of this program that are directed toward a broader population support Goal 2 of the National Drug Control Strategy.

IV. BUDGET SUMMARY

1997 Base Program

• The total base program for FY 1997 is $29.3 million. This includes $17.9 million for state and local assistance and R&D activities that support Goal 1 of the National Drug Control Strategy and another $11.3 million for state and local assistance activities that support Goal 2 of the Strategy. The base program funds activities in both the Highway Traffic Safety Grants and the Operations and Research account.

• The total FY 1998 drug control budget request is $31.1 million, a net increase of $1.8 million over the FY 1997 enacted level.

• The total drug control request for Goal 1 activities for FY 1998 is $19.5 million, a net increase of $1.5 million over the FY 1997 enacted level. This net increase reflects minor program reductions and the funding of a $2 million initiative that supports a demonstration on pre-licensing drug testing (designed to reduce the incidence of teenage drug use and drug-impaired driving) as the first step in launching the President's new government-wide, multi-year national initiative on Drugs, Driving and Youth in America.

• The drug control request for Goal 2 activities for FY 1998 is $11.6 million, a net increase of $0.3 million over FY 1997. This increase covers projected program cost increases but does not provide for any new program enhancements in FY 1998.

V. PROGRAM STATISTICS

• Youth (ages 15 through 20) alcohol-related fatalities have decreased by 6% from 1994 to 1995 and by 59% since 1982. The fatality rate, based on population, has been cut by over half since 1982. While drinking and driving has decreased faster for youth than adults, drivers under 21 are still over-involved in alcohol-related crashes.



• In 1995, 6,220 young people died in motor vehicle crashes. An estimated 2,206 (35.5%) of these fatalities were alcohol-related.



• Youth fatalities decreased slightly (0.3%) from 1994 to 1995, alcohol-related fatalities declined by almost 6% while non-alcohol-related fatalities increased by over 3%.



• Extensive evidence demonstrates that both alcohol sale and drinking and driving laws are not well enforced for youth.

VI. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS  

• In FY 1996, 10 states enacted zero tolerance laws for drivers under age 21. To date, 37 states and the District of Columbia have enacted such laws.



• As of August 1996, 32 states and the District of Columbia have implemented DEC programs in 325 law enforcement agencies. Since the inception of the DEC program, approximately 630 DEC instructors and 4,500 Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) have been trained. Currently, there are about 600 active DEC instructors and 3,800 DREs.



• Provided training to judges and prosecutors to assist in the DEC evidence admitted at trial to enhance the prosecution and adjudication of drug-impaired drivers. Since 1996, successful court cases were achieved in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota and New York for driving under the influence of drugs.



• Conducted the Second IACP DRE, Drugs and Impaired Driving Conference. Conference was attended by more than 400 people and assisted greatly in the review of impaired driving programs.



• Assisted Canada in conducting its first DRE school. Inquiries have been received from Germany, Australia and South Africa on how to establish similar programs in those nations.



• Completed the following studies and research projects:



• study on the predictive validity of each of the DEC evaluation's major components, using the findings to develop a simplified DEC evaluation procedure for police;



• a laboratory study of the accuracy of non-invasive drug test devices for police use and laboratory research to improve drug identification and classification procedures; and



• studies on the use of Passive Alcohol Sensors to detect zero tolerance law violations, and on reasons underage impaired drivers are rarely arrested and prosecuted for DWI.



• A study of drug use by non-fatal seriously injured drivers is underway.



• Completed manual training programs and technical assistance for the development of teen courts as an alternative to adjudicating less serious traffic, alcohol and drug offenses.



• Completed a guide to sentencing DUI offenders to assist prosecutors and judges in using innovative sentences and assessing offenders for substance abuse problems.