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4th of July Drunk Driving Crack-down

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Special, one-night enforcement effort on I-94 involves seven states. Motorists wishing to keep their independence this July 4th holiday need to designate a sober driver as a statewide drunk driving crackdown kicks off today with more than 200 law enforcement agencies in 30 counties participating in the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown.

The effort runs through July 11 and includes a special, one-night, multi-state traffic enforcement effort on 1,500 miles of I-94. On July 2, law enforcement agencies in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,

Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin will deploy extra patrols during the I-94 Corridor Traffic Enforcement Project to deter all dangerous driving behaviors. In Michigan, this effort will include support from the Michigan State Police Aviation Section, Hometown Security Teams and Motor Carrier officers.

I-94 is the busiest and most injury crash-prone corridor in Michigan according to state crash data. From 2007 through 2009, there were more than 520 fatal or serious injury crashes, averaging 176 per year. It is also a major commercial truck route in all seven states.

Extra patrols in Michigan are funded by the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) through federal traffic safety dollars in an effort to deter motorists from driving drunk. Last year, one pedestrian died in Michigan in an alcohol-involved crash over the July 4th holiday.

“Don’t let your Fourth of July end in an arrest, said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. “Make smart decisions and plan ahead to ensure a safe way home. If you drive drunk, you will be arrested.”

In 2009, there were 299 alcohol-related traffic deaths, a decrease of 5.7 percent from 2008. Although the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths declined last year, crashes involving alcohol are eight times more likely to be fatal.

Motorists convicted of a first drunk driving offense face up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver’s license and up to 180 days’ license suspension.

In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension.

Federally-funded drunk driving enforcement is occurring in the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford.

For a listing of planned enforcement times, dates, and locations, visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

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Seat Belts and Sober Drivers = Safe Thanksgiving Weekend

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Seat belts and sober drivers: two things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend

Travel is expected to be heavy this Thanksgiving holiday weekend as people head off to feast with families and friends. But there’s one
sure recipe that can turn a joyful holiday into a tragedy: failure to buckle up and driving drunk.

Over the past five years, Michigan has averaged 14 traffic deaths during the Thanksgiving holiday period. During the 2008 Thanksgiving weekend, 13 people died in traffic crashes in Michigan. Ten of those fatalities involved alcohol and eight of those who died were not buckled up.

“Seat belts are the single most important safety device in you vehicle and they have saved countless lives and prevented untold numbers of injuries over the years,” said Michael L. Prince, Office of Highway Safety Planning director. “Be safe this Thanksgiving by making sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up before you start your trip.”

Michigan’s seat belt use rate has steadily climbed over the past decade and currently stands at a record-high 97.9 percent, the highest in the nation. But last year, of the 841 vehicle occupants who died in traffic crashes, 244 were not restrained.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belt use is the best defense in a crash. Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.

Motorists are also reminded to designate a sober driver this holiday season. About 35 percent of all traffic fatalities in Michigan involve alcohol and/or drugs.

A first-time drunk driving conviction carries heavy penalties including up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver’s license and up to 180 days’ license suspension.

In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension.

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