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December 7, 2005
DUI MONITORING STEPS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Mayor James Kennedy announced today that the
Rahway Police Department is being extra-vigilant this
holiday season to guard against drunk drivers.
From December 5 through January 4 law enforcement officers from
this agency will be stepping up impaired driving enforcement as
part of the You Drink and Drive, You Lose 2005 Year
End enforcement program.
The
end of the year and the beginning of the new is traditionally a
time of social gatherings, which often include alcohol. The goal
of the program is to raise awareness about the dangers of
drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement, and to
arrest motorists who choose to drive while impaired by drugs or
alcohol.
Impaired drivers kill nearly 18,000 people on our nation’s roads
each year. In New Jersey 270 of the 731 motor vehicle
fatalities, or 37 percent, in 2004 were alcohol-related. The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports
that nearly 97 percent of Americans view drinking and driving by
others as a threat to their families and themselves. Indeed,
Americans support tougher enforcement and rank drunk driving
ahead of healthcare, poverty, the environment and gun control as
an important social issue.
Law
enforcement agencies participating in the You Drink and
Drive, You Lose 2005 Year End campaign offer the following
advice:
·
Be responsible and don’t risk it…you will be
caught.
·
If you plan to drink, choose a designated driver
before going out.
·
Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober
friend to drive you home.
·
Spend the night where the activity is held.
·
Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.
·
Always buckle up- it’s your best defense against
an impaired driver.
“The end of the year and New Year celebrations are a time for
fun with family and friends, not tragedy,” said Kennedy. “The
law enforcement community and safety organizations in Rahway and
throughout the state are committed to eliminating impaired
driving from our roads.”
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