Does Social Media Shaming Reduce Drunk Driving? A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of a Police Campaign

• In Event: Traffic and Road Safety

Abstract

Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a significant public safety concern in the United States. This study evaluates the impact of a police-led social media campaign launched in July 2024 to deter drunk driving. Utilizing police-reported traffic accident data, enforcement activity, and public transportation data, a quasi-experimental design is used to estimate the campaign’s effect on alcohol-involved traffic accidents. To enhance causal inference, multiple estimation methods and falsification tests are employed to assess the robustness of findings under different assumptions. The results of this evaluation provide empirical evidence to inform the development of effective, modern crime prevention strategies.

Author

• Matthew Duran, Arizona State University