By framing impaired driving as a social disease and a public health issue, public-private partnerships as well as other links to safe and livable communities can reach millions of individuals with information about impaired driving issues. The dramatic decline in alcohol-related fatalities over the past 20 years has coincided with the advent of local, state and national citizen advocacy groups. These and other citizen advocacy groups, with numerous state and local chapters across the country, have been extraordinarily successful in improving state laws, raising public awareness about drinking and driving and supporting effective enforcement and adjudication efforts. Numerous culturally diverse organizations also have specific interest in this issue, such as the Asian Pacific American Coalition Against Substance Abuse, the National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse, Inc., the Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco, the National Association of Native American Children of Alcoholics, and the National Black Alcoholism and Addictions Council. B. School Programs Student programs, including kindergarten through college and trade school, play a critical role in preventing impaired driving.
Many employers are receptive to information about traffic safety.
Many have policies prohibiting alcohol and other drug use while others have comprehensive policies addressing a multitude of traffic safety issues. More and more employers offer health and safety programs, wellness programs and employee assistance programs. States and communities are in a unique position to provide information and technical assistance to employers, encouraging them to offer programs to reduce impaired driving by employees and their families. States and communities can assist employers to identify their impaired driving and other traffic safety problems, identify the costs they can incur as a result of these problems and design and implement a comprehensive program. Employers should also be familiar with the Federal Highway Administration s drug and alcohol requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers.