Richland County Law Enforcement Joins National Crackdown To Reduce Drunk Driving Fatalities

Richland County Law Enforcement Joins National Crackdown To Reduce Drunk Driving Fatalities

Richland County, Ohio – From mid-August through Labor Day, local police will be out in force as part of the annual nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunk driving. The crackdown will run from August 16 through September 2, 2013. The Richland County Safe Communities Coalition will also be doing its part to bring awareness to the crackdown.

The effective nationwide drunk driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb drunk driving in August and through the Labor Day holiday weekend.

All Richland County law enforcement organizations and their officers/troopers/deputies will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving drunk.

Although it is illegal in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive drunk (having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), far too many people across the nation get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol. The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the serious nature of the nation’s continuing drunk driving epidemic.

“Every year, about one third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths involve one or more drunk drivers or motorcycle operators,” said Reed Richmond, Health Educator at the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department and a spokesperson for Richland County Safe Communities. “In 2011 9,878 people died in crashes involving drunk drivers. That works out to approximately one drunk driving fatality every 53 minutes.”

Richmond added that holidays such as the Labor Day holiday are particularly dangerous.

During the Labor Day weekend in 2011, a total of 138 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drivers or motorcycle riders with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher. Of those fatalities, 83 percent occurred during early evening and overnight, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.

Drunk driving takes a particularly heavy toll among young drivers. Among 18- to 34-year-old drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the 2011 Labor Day weekend, 42 percent were alcohol-impaired.

“Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign reduces drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make Richland County’s roadways safer for everyone throughout the Labor Day period,” Richmond said.

“We want to remind everyone that getting behind the wheel drunk is a terrible idea. Unfortunately, not only does drinking impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely, it also impairs your judgment and good sense about whether you can, or should drive. If you have any doubt about your sobriety, do not get behind the wheel. If you do chose to drive impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses,” Richmond said.

The Richland County Safe Communities Coalition is reminding everyone that being arrested for driving drunk brings a wide range of negative consequences into one’s life. Consequences include:

• • jail time

• • loss of their driver licenses

• • tremendous personal embarrassment when family, friends and co-workers find out

• • steep financial consequences such as:

o higher insurance rates

o attorney fees

o court costs

o lost time at work

o potential loss of job

The Coalition suggest the following tips to avoid drunk driving:

• Plan a safe way home before consuming alcoholic beverages.

• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.

• If you’re impaired, don’t get behind the wheel. Call a taxi, use public transportation or call a sober friend or family member so you are sure to get home safely.

• Remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.

The public can help law enforcement during the crackdown:

• If you see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact any local law enforcement agency or call 1-800-GRABDUI — because you may just save someone’s life.

“Driving drunk is simply not worth the risk. So don’t take the chance. Remember, all of Ohio’s law enforcement branches will be out in force, so ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’” Richmond concluded.

For more information, visit the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign Headquarters at www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.

• ·      In 2011, drunk driving crashes (involving drivers or motorcycle operators with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher), accounted for 31 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities for the year.
• ·      The 138 people killed in 2011 Labor Day crashes involving drivers or motorcycle riders with BACs of .08 or higher accounted for 36 percent for all motor vehicle traffic deaths during the holiday period.
• ·      Alcohol and driving at night are also particularly dangerous during holidays.  In 2011, 83 percent of the Labor Day drunk driving fatalities occurred at night. 
• ·      Young adult drivers 18 to 34 years old are especially at risk. Over the Labor Day holiday in 2011, 42 percent of young drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes were drunk.