Need for Active Alcohol Public Education Program

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) public education program for the past several years has been directed at combating the drinking-driver problem. A major portion of the funds obligated for the program were used for contracts with advertising firms for the development of television and radio announcements and other printed material for media placement. In early 1977, as a cost-saving measure, the Department of Transportation cancelled these contracts and proposed that this work could be done in-house. As of January 1978, no work has been done to develop materials for the media. Several State highway safety representatives noted that a serious information void currently exists, and some States' attempts to obtain public education information from other States have not been successful. Although an independent evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the public information program has not been made, some studies have shown that the NHTSA public education campaign has been effective. The public should continually receive the message that the drinking-driver problem is a serious national problem and that everyone has a personal responsibility to help reduce the number of accidents caused by alcohol. The Federal Government should take the initiative in the development of public education material.