FOSTERING LEADERSHIP TO FACILITATE IMPAIRED DRIVING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is planning to test the impaired driving leadership model developed and initially pilot-tested in cooperation with the New Mexico Department of Transportation. This model is based upon effective leadership to facilitate cross-agency engagement and collaboration with the ability to engage appropriate private sector organizations that may be a resource to the impaired driving system. A permanent, institutionalized Statewide impaired driving task force composed of various public and private stakeholders empowered to identify gaps, obtain resources, implement recommendations, and oversee activities conducted to improve a comprehensive impaired driving system is the major conduit for this leadership.BACKGROUND: NHTSA, working with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, refined a model that will allow a State to identify deficiencies, develop strategies to address those deficiencies, and garner support and resources to implement and oversee identified strategies to improve its comprehensive impaired driving program. The ultimate objective is to develop a process that is transferable to other States that are experiencing a high number or rate of alcohol-related traffic fatalities.Impaired Driving System Improvement Leadership Model1. State conducts a NHTSA-administered impaired driving assessment to examine current comprehensive system.2. State convenes a permanent statewide DWI task force of decision-makers from various offices of State government and private stakeholders to identify gaps in current comprehensive impaired driving system using the impaired driving assessment results as a baseline measure.3. Effective leadership is provided to facilitate the work of the task force in recommending, prioritizing, and overseeing strategies for improvement on an ongoing basis. Task force leadership is selected carefully to maximize cross-agency engagement, collaboration, and resource contribution.One of the model’s critical components is political support at a high State level, (e.g. Governor) and effective leadership at the task force level. The individual(s) leading the task force should be able to facilitate cross-agency engagement and collaboration and be able to engage appropriate private sector organizations that may be a resource to the impaired driving system.This project’s objective is to implement in up to two additional States, the Impaired Driving System Improvement Leadership Model. The expected outcome is a refined model that other States may implement with the intent to improve the comprehensive impaired driving system in any given State.Applications must address each component of the leadership model and how the applicant proposes to implement the model. This presentation must provide evidence as to a commitment to implement the model as presented; a commitment to a high degree of NHTSA involvement with the project; and strong financial and in-kind support for this project.

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