| Table 1. Search Strategy | ||
| Concept | Search String | Databases |
|---|---|---|
| Impaired Driving | "DWI" OR "DUI" OR "drunk driving" OR "impaired driving" OR "driving under the influence" OR "alcohol-impaired driving" OR "drug-impaired driving" | EBSCO; Web of Science; Google Scholar |
| Geographic Location | "El Paso" AND "Texas" | Same databases |
| Prevalence / Outcomes | prevalence OR incidence OR rate* OR trend* OR arrest* OR crash* OR collision* OR fatal* OR injur* | Same databases |
| Risk Factors | "risk factor*" OR predictor* OR correlat* OR determinant* | Same databases |
| Evaluations / Interventions | evaluat* OR intervention* OR program* OR policy OR enforcement OR "sobriety checkpoint*" OR campaign* | Same databases |
Protocol: A Scoping Review of Impaired Driving Research in El Paso, Texas
Summary:
This is a search and analysis plan for a comprehensive review of impaired driving research in the El Paso region. The review systematically identifies and synthesizes all available evidence related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The goal of this project is to support local decision-making and improve understanding of impaired driving at the jurisdictional level.
A PDF version of this protocol is available here
Rationale for Study
Alcohol-related traffic deaths remain a persistent problem in the United States. While significant progress was achieved in the 1980s, such as the percentage of deaths involving a drunk driver falling from near 50% to around 30% by the year 2000, the problem has largely remained unchanged for over twenty-five years (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2023). Despite decades of legislative, enforcement, and public health efforts, driving while intoxicated continues to contribute substantially to motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Beyond its human toll, impaired driving imposes significant economic costs through healthcare expenditures, legal processing, and lost productivity (Baumberg 2006). These patterns highlight the need for continued evaluation of how impaired driving is measured, addressed, and prevented.
Much of the existing research on impaired driving relies on national or multi-state analyses, which are valuable for identifying broad trends and evaluating large-scale policy interventions but may be less applicable for individual communities. Moreover, a substantial portion of foundational empirical work in this area was conducted in the late 1980s and early 2000s, reflecting policy environments and enforcement strategies that may differ meaningfully from contemporary conditions (e.g., (Elder et al. 2004; Wagenaar et al. 1995)). Consequently, findings derived from national samples may obscure important local variation and may not generalize to specific communities. This limitation is particularly salient for policymakers and practitioners who must make decisions within the constraints and realities of their own jurisdictions.
A jurisdiction-specific approach offers an opportunity to examine impaired driving within its full local context. For example, in a setting such as El Paso, impaired driving patterns may be shaped by unique demographic characteristics, cross-border dynamics, transportation infrastructure, and localized enforcement strategies. These contextual factors are critical for interpreting trends and evaluating interventions but are frequently overlooked in broader analyses. At the same time, the body of evidence within a single jurisdiction is often fragmented. Relevant information may exist across peer-reviewed studies, government reports, and program evaluations, each using different definitions, measures, and methodological approaches. This fragmentation can lead to inconsistent conclusions, and missed opportunities for coordinated policy responses. Without a comprehensive synthesis, stakeholders may lack a clear understanding of how different components of the system interact or where critical gaps in knowledge remain.
Objectives
The objective of this review is to systematically map and synthesize the full range of available evidence on impaired driving within the El Paso region. Consistent with scoping review methodology,1 the aim is not to evaluate intervention effectiveness, but rather to characterize the nature, extent, and distribution of existing evidence across multiple domains. Specifically, this review will integrate findings from both peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed literature to develop a comprehensive understanding of how impaired driving is studied and documented within the jurisdiction.
1 This review will follow the reporting guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). https://www.prisma-statement.org/scoping
The review will meet the following objectives:
- Describe how impaired driving is measured and reported across studies, including indicators of prevalence such as arrests, crashes, injuries, and fatalities;
- Map the range of documented risk factors associated with impaired driving;
- Catalog and describe the types of interventions, enforcement strategies, and policy approaches that have been implemented and evaluated; and
- Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and areas of fragmentation in the existing evidence base.
By organizing the literature across these domains, the review aims to provide a structured overview of how impaired driving is conceptualized, measured, and addressed within the local context. In doing so, this study will provide a foundational evidence map to support future research, data integration efforts, and policy development at the local level, moving beyond fragmented and generalized national findings toward a more context-specific understanding of impaired driving dynamics within the jurisdiction.
Criteria for Inclusion and Exclusion of Studies
Definition
Eligible studies must focus on the topic of impaired driving. In line with prior research, this review defines impaired driving as driving under the influence of drug or alcohol (Rezapour and Ksaibati 2022). Studies that assess a form of impaired driving outside of this definition will be excluded (e.g., driver fatigue).
Study Design
Any empirical study design will be considered, including observational/descriptive studies, qualitative designs, quasi-experimental evaluations, time series analyses, and program or policy evaluations. Both peer-reviewed literature and gray literature, such as government reports and agency publications, will be included to capture the full scope of available evidence. Studies must be available in English or Spanish and include data from the year 2000 onward. Studies will be excluded if they consist solely of editorials, commentaries, or conceptual discussions without empirical data.
Location
Eligible studies must use data specific to El Paso, Texas or a clearly identifiable subset of that jurisdiction.
Search Strategy
This review will be conducted by a research team at the El Paso Crime Lab. The search will cover a comprehensive range of sources to ensure inclusion of both published and unpublished research. Peer-reviewed literature will be searched using the search strings reported in Table 1.
Selection of Studies
All identified records will be imported into reference management software, and duplicates will be removed prior to screening. The selection of sources of evidence will proceed in two stages: an initial screening of titles and abstracts, followed by full-text review of potentially eligible studies. Screening will be conducted independently by two reviewers, and disagreements will be resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. The study selection process will be documented using a PRISMA flow diagram, including the number of records identified, screened, excluded, and included, along with reasons for exclusion at the full-text stage.
Synthesis of Results
The synthesis of results will focus on descriptive and thematic analysis. Findings will be organized into primary domains, such as prevalence, risk factors, and intervention evaluations. Within each domain, studies will be grouped based on outcome type, data source, and methodological approach. Results will be presented using narrative synthesis supported by summary tables. Consistent with scoping review methodology, a formal critical appraisal of study quality or risk of bias will not be required. However, relevant limitations and data quality considerations will be noted and incorporated into the interpretation of findings.
References
Baumberg, Ben. 2006. “The Global Economic Burden of Alcohol: A Review and Some Suggestions.” Drug and Alcohol Review 25 (6): 537–51.
Elder, R. W., R. A. Shults, D. A. Sleet, J. L. Nichols, R. S. Thompson, and W. Rajab. 2004. “Effectiveness of Mass Media Campaigns for Reducing Drinking and Driving.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 27 (1): 57–65.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2023. “Traffic Safety Facts 2023 Data.” U.S. Department of Transportation.
Rezapour, M., and K. Ksaibati. 2022. “Identification of Factors Associated with Various Types of Impaired Driving.” Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 9 (1): 1–11.
Wagenaar, A. C., T. S. Zobeck, G. D. Williams, and R. Hingson. 1995. “Meta-Analysis of Drink-Drive Control Studies.” Accident Analysis & Prevention 27 (3): 307–16.