For Immediate Release
August 17, 2011
Contact
Betsy Ross
PIO GHSP
(802) 241-5511
Waterbury, VT – Law enforcement agencies throughout the state are participating in an intensive crackdown on impaired driving August 19 – September 5, known as the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The Vermont State Police’s Operation C.A.R.E. will also be adding to enforcement efforts over Labor Day weekend, September 2 through September 5.
The problem of impaired driving is a serious one. 2009 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit. In Vermont, while we saw the number alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities decreased from 26 in 2009 to 24 in 2010, the number is still too high. Our goal is to see zero alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities.
“Our message is simple and unwavering: if we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you” “said Lt. John Flannigan, Vermont State Police Traffic Safety Commander. “Therefore we urge all Vermont motorists to drive safe and be responsible.”
“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the death of loved ones due to the careless disregard for human life by impaired drivers,” said Chief Paul Doucette, Bennington Police Department.
And according to NHTSA, twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night. Therefore saturation patrols and sobriety and safety checkpoints will be used during these high-risk times in an effort to eliminate those tragedies.
Sobriety and safety checkpoints are an effective method for deterring drinking and driving by increasing awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and encouraging designated drivers. In 2010, over the Labor Day holiday, a total of 18,977 contacts passed through the 53 checkpoints on Vermont highways resulting in 92 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
According to Kirk Martin, Orleans County Sheriff violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. The financial impacts include insurance rate increases, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment.
Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences; so don’t take the chance. Remember, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”.
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I have driven impaired and I know that we have to be fully alert at the speeds being “overdriven”…tailgaters, road ragers, animals on the highway give big surprises and the gift is usually the hospital or the morgue.