New York: • Police gear up for road safety campaign
Law enforcement agencies across New York are gearing up for the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign from Friday, Dec. 18, through Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.
According to an announcement from New Your State Police, drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols along roadways during the campaign, which is funded through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC).
“Troopers will be out on our highways and very visible through New Year’s, with the goal of making everyone’s holiday a safe one," said Superintendent Joseph D’Amico. "If you’re celebrating, please do so responsibly. Impaired drivers cause needless deaths and injuries. Have a plan and you could save a life — maybe even your own.”
Police will also be watching for distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up and drivers violating the “Move Over Law,” which requires motorists to exercise extreme caution when passing emergency vehicles that are stopped in or on the side of the road.
During the campaign, troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of the operation.
CITE vehicles allow police to more easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving. These vehicles blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.
During last year’s crackdown, State Police issued more than 49,000 tickets. Of those tickets more than 17,000 were for speeding, 1,730 were for distracted driving and 697 for the “Move Over Law”. There were also 702 people arrested for DWI and 13 people killed in vehicle crashes.
The facts are grim: During the 2013 holiday period, 1,180 people nationwide were killed on the road, with almost a third of the fatalities related to drunk-driving. On Christmas Day that year, 23 people were killed by drunk drivers.
Safety tips from New York State Police, the GTSC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
• Plan a safe way home before the celebrating begins
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation
• Use your community’s sober ride program
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely