FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2015
CONTACT: Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo / 626-574-5475
This Fourth of July, ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled
Over’ by
The Arcadia Police Department
Arcadia,
CA – The Fourth of July is one of America’s favorite holidays. And why not?
Families and friends gather to celebrate our country with food, parades,
parties, picnics and fireworks.
And
yet there is a very dark side to this great holiday. For many, the celebration
includes alcohol, and the holiday can quickly go from festive to fatal when
people choose to drive after drinking. From 2009-2013, nearly 40 percent of ALL
traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July period occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving
crashes. Of the five major holiday periods of the year in California, the Fourth
of July ranks as having the highest daily fatality rate.
Over
the Fourth of July holiday period in 2013 alone (6 p.m. July 3rd to
5:59 a.m. July 8th), there were 199 people killed in
alcohol-impaired-driving crashes on our nation’s roads, according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In California, 28 individuals
were killed in alcohol- involved crashes.
To
crack down on drunk driving this Fourth of July, The Arcadia Police Department will be out in full force,
aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger. A DUI Saturation Patrol
will be deployed during the holiday weekend and all patrol officers will be
alert to the tell-tale signs of an impaired driver.
NHTSA
data shows that 10,076 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in the
United States in 2013—representing almost a third of all crash fatalities. By
comparison, during the July Fourth period that year, 39 percent of all crash
fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers.
The rate of high Blood
Alcohol Content (BAC) impaired driving is astounding. In fatal crashes during
the July Fourth period in 2013, more than one-fifth (21%) of involved drivers
or motorcycle operators had BACs of .15 or higher—almost twice the legal
limit.
NHTSA
data also reveals that 35 percent of young drivers (18 to 34 years old) were
driving drunk (BAC of .08 or higher) in fatal crashes over the July Fourth
period in 2013. Motorcycle operators are also overrepresented as the highest
percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes. In 2013, more than
one-quarter (27%) of motorcycle operators in fatal crashes had BACs of .08 or
higher.
Drunk
drivers are more common at night, too. Over the July 4th holiday in
2013, more than two fifths (42%) of the drivers in nighttime fatal crashes (6
p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were alcohol-impaired, as compared to 13 percent of drivers
in fatal crashes during the day.
If you’re caught driving drunk or drug-impaired, you will be
arrested. Aside from putting your life and the lives of others at risk, driving
impaired can also lead to serious consequences. A DUI arrest can mean time in
jail, loss of your license, and steep financial expenses; the average DUI costs
about $10,000.
Law
enforcement region-wide is asking for everyone’s support this holiday weekend
and all summer long:
·
Plan
a safe way home before the fun begins.
·
Before
drinking, designate a sober driver.
- DDVIP: The California Office of Traffic
Safety DDVIP mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and
Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced
features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to
find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to
search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users
can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users
are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to
imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a
sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.
- DRUGS, MEDICATION & ALCOHOL=
CRASHES: Recent statistics reveal
that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their
systems. A study of active drivers
showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent)
than did for alcohol (7.3 percent).
Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent,
slightly more than alcohol.
·
If you
happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to “Report Drunk
Drivers! Call 911!”
·
If
you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take your
friend’s keys and help your friend make other arrangements to get to where he
or she is going safely.
Funding
for the special DUI operation is by a grant from the California Office of
Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. The Avoid DUI Task Force will deploy checkpoints and DUI
patrols next during the August/Labor Day DUI Mobilization.
Don’t forget to
visit the Arcadia Police Department News & Information Blog or follow us on
Facebook, Twitter or Nixle for other pertinent news and information. Remember, the solution begins with you!
Robert T. Guthrie
Chief
of Police
By: Kollin Cieadlo
Traffic Sergeant
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