Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Mass Media Campaigns

Task Force Finding*

The accompanying systematic review found strong evidence that mass media campaigns are effective in reducing alcohol-impaired driving and alcohol-related crashes (i.e., those in which the driver had a blood alcohol concentration [BAC] of at least 0.01 g/dL) if they are carefully planned, well-executed, and attain adequate audience exposure, and if they are implemented in conjunction with other ongoing prevention activities, such as enforcement of laws against alcohol-impaired driving.

Based on this evidence, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services (the Task Force) recommends that mass media campaigns that meet these criteria be implemented to reduce alcohol-impaired driving and its consequences. Such campaigns can be effective whether they focus on publicizing existing laws and enforcement activities or on the health and social consequences of alcohol-impaired driving.

*From the following publication:

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendation for use of mass media campaigns to reduce alcohol-impaired driving. [PDF - 34KB] Am J Prev Med 2004;27(1):66.

Review completed: June 2002