NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August
24, 2015
CONTACT: Sgt. K. Cieadlo / 626-574-5475
The Arcadia
Police Department Will Be Out In Full Force To
Catch
Drunk Drivers
As summer
winds down, the Arcadia Police Department is ramping up its enforcement efforts
as part of a national crackdown on drunk driving. The 18-day, high-visibility
campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,
is a partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety to curb impaired
driving and save lives. August
21-September 7 (Labor Day), law enforcement partners in Los Angeles County,
across the state and nationwide will show zero tolerance for drunk
driving. Increased state and national
messaging about the dangers of driving drunk, coupled with checkpoints and
increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce the toll of drunk
driving.
And what a
toll it is. In 2013, there were 10,076 people killed in drunk–driving crashes,
almost a third of all traffic fatalities according to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In California, 867 died in drunk driving collisions according to
NHTSA. Thirty-eight percent of crash
fatalities on Labor Day weekend that year involved drunk drivers with a Blood Alcohol
Content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher. And we’re not just talking about a
little bit of alcohol, either. More than a quarter (27 percent) of the crash
fatalities that occurred on Labor Day weekend involved drivers with BACs of .15
or higher – almost twice the illegal limit.
The Arcadia Police Department kicks off Saturday, August 29,
2015 by deploying special DUI Saturation Patrols. DUI enforcement will
continue through Monday, September 7th with a DUI/CDL checkpoint the
night of September 4, 2015.
NHTSA data
shows that repeat offenders are an especially dangerous facet of the
drunk-driving problem. In the month of August from 2009-2013, of the drunk
drivers involved in fatal crashes, almost 1 out of 10 (8 percent) of them had
already been convicted of at least one drunk-driving offense.
Law
Enforcement emphasizes the preventable nature of drunk driving reminding
everyone that all it takes is a little planning ahead. Designate a sober driver
or call a cab. But whatever you do, don’t drink and drive. The
California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) 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 will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate
their life saving role. They 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.
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. Everyone should be mindful that if
you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking
even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects.
So this
August and year-round, remember that there’s no excuse for drunk or impaired
driving. If you choose to break the law, police sheriff and CHP officials will
see you before you see them. Drive Sober
or Get Pulled Over.
Funding for this special campaign is provided by a grant
from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone; Report Drunk Drivers! –
Call 9-1-1.
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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