|
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
updated: Jul 03, 2012, 3:26 PM
Source: Avoid the 12
Most Americans may not realize it, but the Fourth of July is one of the
deadliest holidays of the year due to alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
That's why this Fourth of July the ‘AVOID the 12' DUI Task Force is stepping up
enforcement efforts as part of the ongoing "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over"
enforcement crackdown to catch and arrest impaired drivers who put themselves
and others at risk.
"The Fourth of July is one of the deadliest holidays due to an increase in
impaired-driving fatalities," said Sgt. Kevin Huddle of the Santa Barbara
Sheriff's Department. "Too many people die behind the wheel each year due to
those who choose to drive after drinking, so our officers will be out in full
force this Fourth of July showing zero tolerance for impaired drivers."
The DUI Task Force plans to deploy special DUI Saturation Patrols on Wednesday
July 4th, Friday July 6th and Saturday July 7th. The increased DUI patrols will
be in the cities of Goleta, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria,
patrolling late into the night. The California Highway Patrol will also increase
their patrols for the long holiday weekend. With Independence Day falling on a
Wednesday, many in our community will be taking the rest of the week off so DUI
checkpoints and saturation patrols will be out in force throughout the weekend.
A Sobriety checkpoint will be conducted in the City of Goleta on Friday July 6th
between 7:00 pm and 3:00 am.
Impaired-driving crashes killed more than 10,000 people in 2010, accounting for
31 percent of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States. That's an
average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 51 minutes.
Often Fourth of July celebrations start during the day, but last well into the
night - making the dangers from impaired drivers even higher at night.
"The amount of alcohol that one can consume during a day-long party or
celebration can drastically impair the motor skills needed to drive safely,"
said Sgt. Huddle. "Add the fact that many others may be out driving impaired,
and that visual skills also decrease at night, and you have a recipe for
disaster."
The ‘AVOID the 12' DUI Task Force reminds everyone that there are numerous
consequences as a result of being caught driving impaired, such as the risk of
killing or harming others, jail time, insurance hikes, potential loss of
driver's license, just to name a few.
The ‘AVOID the 12' DUI Task Force recommends these simple tips for a safe Fourth
of July:
- Plan a safe way home before the fun begins;
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
- If you're impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or
use public transportation;
- If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate, Report
Drunk Drivers! Call 911;
- And remember, "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over." If you know someone who
is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make
other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
Funding for the Avoid Campaign is from a grant from the California Office of
Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
5 comments on this article. Read/Add
# # # #
|
