The Gloucester Township Police Department (GTPD) recently partnered with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Labor Day Crackdown enforcement campaign. From August 16, 2019 to September 2, 2019, GTPD showed zero tolerance for impaired driving; arresting ten (10) drivers for driving while intoxicated. Two of the drivers arrested for DWI were suspected of being under the influence of drugs which is just as dangerous as being under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, 58 drivers were issued summonses for driving with a suspended driver's license and 72 summonses were issued for careless, reckless or otherwise unsafe driving behavior.
Over the 2017 Labor Day holiday period, there were 376 crash fatalities nationwide. Of the fatal crashes, more than 44% involved drivers who had been drinking. Of those crashes, more than a third involved drivers who were drunk (.08+ blood alcohol concentration [BAC]) and more than one-fourth (26%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Age is a particularly risky factor: Among the drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2017, 42% of those fatalities involved drunk drivers with BACs of .08 or higher.
Although summer has unofficially come to an end, the Gloucester Township Police Department will continue implementing enhanced patrols to combat drunk and/or drugged driving. We want to remind everyone gearing up to celebrate the return of the football and all the Eagles’ wins to designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get home safely. Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive! Eagles Fans don't let fans drive drunk. If you are on the road and see a suspected drunk driver please contact 9-1-1 immediately to report it. You just may prevent a tragedy and save lives.
For additional information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/drive-sober
