Federal documentation of the drunk driving problem shows that alcohol is involved in approximately 50 percent of highway fatalities and that two-thirds of these fatalities involve alcoholics and other problem drinkers who comprise less than 10 percent of drivers. These and other findings were the foundation of the Alcohol Countermeasures Program begun by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1970. The program included a deterrence element -- increased enforcement and related publicity -- and efforts to identify problem drinkers and refer them to abuse prevention programs. In another Federal effort, the 1983 report of the President's Commission on Drunk Driving made recommendations in the areas of public awareness and education, the private sector, alcoholic beverage regulation, system support, enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, licensing administration, and treatment. The approaches most likely to be effective are those that impact the drinking and driving habits of problem drinkers without overly restricting social drinkers and diminishing their support for drunk driving programs. The public should be informed about possible actions to take to reduce drunkenness and make it socially unacceptable. Actions include adequate police patrols that increase the probability of arrest, effective penalties, sizable fines, and mandated license suspension or revocation for suitable periods. Education and rehabilitation programs for drunk drivers are also appropriate. 11 references.