Breath testing checkpoints
Law enforcement officers use breath testing checkpoints, also called sobriety checkpoints, to stop drivers and assess their level of alcohol impairment. There are two types of checkpoints: selective breath testing (SBT), where officers must suspect a driver’s impairment to request a breath test; and random breath testing (RBT), where officers can test all drivers for blood alcohol levels. SBT is used in some U.S. states; RBT is not used in the U.S. Checkpoints may be publicized through paid or unpaid media coverage, or occur without publicity1.
What could this strategy improve?
Expected Benefits
Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:
Reduced impaired driving
Reduced alcohol-related crashes
Reduced fatal and non-fatal injuries
Potential Benefits
Our evidence rating is not based on these outcomes, but these benefits may also be possible:
Reduced underage drinking
What does the research say about effectiveness?
There is strong evidence that sobriety checkpoints reduce alcohol-impaired driving, alcohol-related crashes, and associated fatal and non-fatal injuries, especially when highly publicized1, 2. Positive effects have been shown for both random breath testing (RBT)1, 3 and selective breath testing (SBT)1, 2.
States with sobriety checkpoint laws have lower rates of alcohol-impaired driving than states without such laws. States that conduct checks frequently (i.e., at least monthly) have lower rates than states that conduct checks less frequently2. The largest reduction in crashes often occurs in the first three to six months of checkpoint implementation4. A review of Australian checkpoints suggests that testing all drivers stopped at a checkpoint may increase the checkpoint’s effectiveness4.
Sobriety checkpoints are also a suggested strategy to reduce alcohol consumption among underage youth5. However, additional evidence is needed to confirm effects on underage drinking.
Implementation Examples
As of 2015, 38 states and Washington, D.C. permit law enforcement officers to conduct publicized random breath testing checkpoints by law; frequency and other specifics vary. Twelve states prohibit or do not authorize checkpoints6.
Footnotes
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1 CG-Motor vehicle injury - The Guide to Community Preventive Services (The Community Guide). Motor vehicle injury prevention.
2 Lenk 2016 - Lenk KM, Nelson TF, Toomey TL, et al. Sobriety checkpoint and open container laws in the United States: Associations with drinking-driving. Traffic Injury Prevention. 2016;17(8):782-787.
3 IAS-Anderson 2006 - Anderson P, Baumberg B. Alcohol in Europe: A public health perspective. London, UK: Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS); 2006.
4 Erke 2009 - Erke A, Goldenbeld C, Vaa T. The effects of drink-driving checkpoints on crashes - A meta-analysis. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2009;41(5):914-23.
5 RAND-Imm 2007 - Imm P, Chinman M, Wandersman A, et al. Preventing underage drinking: Using Getting To Outcomes™ with the SAMHSA strategic prevention framework to achieve results. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation; 2007: Technical Report 403.
6 IIHS-Sobriety checkpoints - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Summary of state court decisions on the constitutionality of sobriety checkpoints. January 2020.
Related What Works for Health Strategies
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