BY SHANNON MCLAUGHLIN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY––Summertime is commonly associated with pool parties, barbecues and nights out enjoying the weather. The season is also associated with a surge in dangerous road incidents, but law enforcement is working to change that.
Police departments all over the country are participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which occurs biannually during the summer and end-of-the-year holidays – the other deadliest time on the road.
According to the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety, last summer’s campaign saw 115 DWI arrests in the county and1,649 in the state. The mobilization against impaired driving was enforced from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5.
On the local level, Northern Valley police departments that joined in last year’s campaign have again pledged their support for this year. The Tenafly Police Department, which reminded residents of its participation this year, gave out 31 violations during last year’s campaign.
“You can expect to see high-visibility DWI enforcement efforts all over the region, including checkpoints and pro-active DWI patrols … We are asking for everyone’s cooperation to ensure a safe and enjoyable last few weeks of summer by always using a designated driver and preventing anyone who has been drinking from getting behind the wheel,” the department wrote on Facebook.
The purpose of the crackdown is not to net more DWI arrests, according to the Division of Highway Traffic Safety; it’s to prevent driving while impaired from even being an option.
“The key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement … Drivers must perceive that the risk of being caught is too high before their behavior will change. Use the ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ message to convince audiences that the chance of being caught is too high to risk,” the division wrote on their website.
“Many people believe that after a few drinks, they’re still safe to drive,” added Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, in a press release. “Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road, in danger.”
“There is a zero-tolerance message for this campaign. If drivers are caught operating their vehicle while impaired, they will be arrested,” Poedubicky said.
The two-week campaign does not solely focus on driving under the influence; police also crack down on other forms of impaired driving, including speeding, reckless driving, careless driving, using a cell phone and not wearing a seat belt, among other violations.
On the state level, last summer’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown led to 7,373 speeding citations, 951 reckless driving violations, 4,986 careless driving violations, 1,650 cell phone/texting violations and 4,230 seat belt citations, according to the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization runs through Labor Day weekend, ending Sept. 4.