For Immediate Release- December 4, 2019
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Law enforcement officials will be cracking down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs as part of the annual end-of-year “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Beginning December 6, 2019 and continuing through January 1, 2020, the Middletown Township Police Department and state law enforcement officials will be conducting saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.
The national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” effort endeavors to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education. During the last five years New Jersey has experienced nearly 37,000 alcohol involved crashes resulting in more than 679 fatalities. “In Middletown, the number of DWIs jumps dramatically during the holiday season, so it is imperative that we make the community aware that the MTPD is enforcing this for their own safety,” said Police Chief R. Craig Weber.
The holiday season is supposed to be a time for family, friends and festive celebrations, but unfortunately it is also a time when the number of fatalities increase due to drunk driving. “We want to remind everyone to always designate a sober driver before each holiday party or event involving alcohol,” said Mayor Tony Perry. “Our town is fortunate to have a stellar group of officers on the road who will be there to help save lives, but we need the community’s commitment to making smart decisions.”
Last year, 20% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Nationally, 10,511 people died in 2018 in drunk driving crashes. The societal cost associated with these crashes is estimated to be $44 billion annually.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2019 Year End Holiday Crackdown offer the following advice for the holiday season:
- Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
- Spend the night where the activity or party is held.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life.
- Always buckle-up, every ride. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
If you are intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive or escort you to your doorstep.
Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
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