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Last year 189 people died on roadways during year-end holidays
New Jersey police agencies throughout New Jersey will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints during the upcoming holiday season as part of an effort to keep motorists from driving off the road and through the woods when returning from grandmother's house or the office party.
As part of the "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" year-end, drunk driving crackdown, State Division of Highway Traffic Safety Acting Director Gary Poedubicky announced Monday that until Jan. 2, police will participate in a national effort designed to combat drunk driving during one of the busiest and most dangerous travel times of the year.
Last year in New Jersey, 189 people were killed as a result of 179 alcohol-related crashes during the year-end holiday season. The number represents 32 percent of the 584 traffic fatalities reported in the state in 2009. Nationally, 10,839 individuals were killed in highway crashes involving drunk driving.
Designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving, the four-week initiative uses high visibility enforcement and public education efforts, including posters, banners, national TV public service announcements and mobile video display signs."Our goal is to make sure that everyone has a safe and happy holiday by keeping intoxicated drivers off the roads," Poedubicky said. "Concentrated efforts such as this one will heighten awareness about the dangers of drunk driving, and the consequences motorists can face if they choose to drink and drive."
In place since 1999, the program provides federal grants, through the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, of $5,000 each to 115 New Jersey police departments. However, all local police agencies received information about the program and have been asked to run checkpoints and patrols during the holiday season and report their results to the division. The State Police will also participate in the effort.
"The number of lives lost as a result of drunk driving is simply unacceptable," Poedubicky said. "As we can see from these numbers, there is still work to be done. Driving while intoxicated remains a serious problem, and this holiday season we are sending a strong and clear message that this dangerous and often deadly behavior will not be tolerated on New Jersey roads."
- The division offers the following advice to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season for all New Jerseyans and out-of-state visitors:
- If you've consumed alcohol, even just one drink, take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
- Report impaired drivers to law enforcement. In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to report a drunk or aggressive driver.
- If you're intoxicated, and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member escort you safely to your doorstep.
- Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It's the best defense against an impaired driver.
Additional information on the "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" year-end crackdown is available on the division's web site.
A list of police agencies receiving grants for the mobilization can be found here.
– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
