Effectiveness of designated driver programs in reducing alcohol-impaired driving

Ditter S, Elder RW, Shults RA, Sleet DA, Compton R, Nichols JL, Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Effectiveness of designated driver programs for reducing alcohol -- "impaired driving: a systematic review. Am J. Prev Med 2005;28(5S):280 -- "7.

What were researchers looking for?

The research was conducted to find out and evaluate the proof of effectiveness of a program designed for drivers to assist in the lowering the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol.

What did the experiment reveal?

The result of this experiment indicates a 13 percentage point increase in the respondent who is normally nominated as a designated driver; however, the result shows a little change in the number of people who drives under the influence of alcohol or riding when drunk. Eight of the studies carried out after providing incentives to designated drivers were found to be inclusive and met the necessary criteria. Seven of the drivers who were evaluated and identified themselves as selected drivers before and after the beginning of the programs were employed. This means, the study revealed an increase of 0.9 designated drivers every night. Moreover, the study also revealed a 6 percentage point reduction on the total number of people who volunteered information or reporting to the police when drove in a car or rode a motorbike with a person who was intoxicated drivers among the respondents exposed to an incentive program.

Evaluation: add your comments regarding whether this was a worthwhile project

This project was worthwhile, going by the number of deaths which had occurred simply because certain person normally drives under the influence of alcohol or when intoxicated. Therefore, the project reveals that when driving when drunk is controlled and all cases of accidents are properly reported, the number of accident on our roads shall reduce thoroughly.

Future study: if appropriate, identify any remaining related questions that should be studied

More studies should be carried to come up with a lasting solution on how to reduce the number of people who drives when drunk which cause a lot of accident on our roads. This study indicates lack of enough evidence to make a strong conclusion on the effectives of either types of drivers or program used during the experiment. Therefore more carefully controlled studies are needed of the effects of population-based, designated driver promotion efforts. For incentive programs, the public health impact of the small observed increases in the number is also needed.

Conclusion

Through this study, we released that 2/3 of accidents which normally occurred on our roads normally take place under the influence of alcohol. Therefore appropriate and inclusive study is needed to help curb accidents.