Law Enforcement Cracking Down on Drunk Drivers - June 26

Make This Fourth of July Holiday One To Remember Not One You Want To Forget

July 4^th is the Second Deadliest Day of the Year on America’s Roadways

Law Enforcement Cracking Down on Drunk Drivers

Appomattox- In 2006, 22 people were killed in crashes across Virginia on the Fourth of July holiday period last year making it one of the deadliest holidays since July of 1997.

That’s why The Virginia State Police announced today that Troopers will be out in full force cracking down on drunk drivers during the 2007 Fourth of July holiday period with an aggressive Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. enforcement blitz.

“Nationally, in 2006, the Fourth of July holiday period was the deadliest holiday period of the year—due to impaired driving,” said Sergeant David Cooper, Appomattox Division Public Information Officer. “That’s why we are going to be out doing more sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and heightened enforcement activities to show zero tolerance for anyone we catch driving impaired. Our message is simple: If we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses.”

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest problems. Nearly 13,000 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .08 or higher in 2005.

Alcohol plays a big role in motorcycle fatalities too—affecting those skills most essential to operating a motorcycle—balance and coordination. In 2005, 41 percent of the 1,878 motorcycle operators who died in single-vehicle crashes had BAC levels of .08 or higher.

Sergeant Cooper said much of the tragedy from drunk driving can be prevented with a few simple precautions before going out to celebrate:

• Plan ahead: Whenever you plan on consuming alcohol, designate your sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;
• If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;
• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement;
• And remember, Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. 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.

Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses.

“No matter what you drive—a passenger car, pickup, or motorcycle—if you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested,” said Sergeant Cooper “Make this Fourth of July one to remember NOT one you want to forget. Remember. Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.”