As summer winds down, the Avoid the 23 San Mateo County DUI Task Force is ramping up its enforcement efforts as part of a national crackdown on drunk driving. The 18-day, high-visibility campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”, is a partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety to curb impaired driving and save lives. Between August 21-September 7 (Labor Day), law enforcement partners in San Mateo County, across the state and nationwide will show zero tolerance for drunk driving. Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of driving drunk, coupled with checkpoints and increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce the toll of drunk driving.
In 2013, there were 10,076 people killed in drunk driving crashes, almost a third of all traffic fatalities according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In California, 867 people died in drunk driving collisions. Thirty-eight percent of crash fatalities on Labor Day weekend that year involved drunk drivers with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher. This is not just a little bit of alcohol either. More than a quarter (27 percent) of the crash fatalities that occurred on Labor Day weekend involved drivers with BACs of .15 or higher – almost twice the illegal limit.
San Mateo County’s DUI Task Force kicks off Friday night by deploying special DUI Saturation Patrols throughout the County. DUI enforcement, including two DUI/DL checkpoints and a warrant service operation, will continue through Monday, September 7th. In addition, the California Highway Patrol will deploy all available officers onto freeways and county roads as part of their Maximum Enforcement Period over the 3 day holiday weekend.
NHTSA data shows that repeat offenders are an especially dangerous facet of the drunk-driving problem. In the month of August from 2009-2013, of the drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes, almost 1 out of 10 (8 percent) of them had already been convicted of at least one drunk-driving offense.
Law Enforcement emphasizes the preventable nature of drunk driving reminding everyone that all it takes is a little planning ahead. Designate a sober driver or call a cab. But whatever you do, don’t drink and drive. The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate their life saving role. They can stay up to date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.
Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. Everyone should be mindful that taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – and drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects.
This August and all year, remember that there is no excuse for drunk or impaired driving. If you choose to break the law, the police, sheriff and CHP official will see you before you see them. “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
The Avoid the 23 DUI Task Force funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone to “Report Drunk Drivers! – Call 9-1-1.”
