It’s the third year the Berlin Police Department is a part of the initiative which raises awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.
With the holiday season in full swing, that means more social gatherings that may include alcohol. To crack down on impaired driving, the majority of the state is conducting a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. It’s the third year the Berlin Police Department is a part of the initiative, which raises awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.
State and local law enforcement officials are conducting saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints focusing on motorists who may be intoxicated while driving. More undercover officers are on the road as well. This campaign is in effect until Sunday, Jan. 1.
Chief Mike Miller said since his department became involved in this campaign, more people are aware of the dangers alcohol has on drivers, and they are more aware the number of patrolmen on the street during the holiday season has increased.
“The message is to make the right choice and to not drive buzzed or drunk,” he said. “I think businesses and people are more aware to take the appropriate steps.”
Miller called this campaign an oxymoron because the number of drunk drivers has gone up, and so have the number of arrests, due to his department “being more aggressive with their law enforcement efforts.”
The statistics involving alcohol and impaired driving in December are staggering.
In December 2015, New Jersey experienced approximately 41,000 crashes involving alcohol, resulting in 840 deaths, and fatal crashes involving drunk drivers were almost four times higher at night than day. Over a five-year period, almost 4,000 people died in drunk driving crashes during December.
“Leave your car at home,” he said. “There are plenty of options with public transportation and private transportation such as Uber. It’s so simple nowadays, you just use the app to schedule for it to come. You don’t even have to worry about money. It’s really not worth the cost of getting locked up for a DUI.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also offers other safety steps you can take: designate a non-drinking driver when with a group; don’t let your friends drive impaired; and if you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver, offer alcohol-free beverages and make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
