Impaired Driving Crackdown runs Oct. 28 through Oct. 31, 2016, Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley announced today that Madison County police agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving, and that both the Sheriff’s Office and the Village of Canastota Police Department will conduct a joint sobriety checkpoint over the weekend.
Halloween is meant to be scary, but not when it comes to driving. When it comes to drunken driving Halloween can turn the roads into a horror fest. While we spend time trick or treating and hosting parties with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start Oct. 28 and end Oct. 31. New York State Police, County Sheriff’s and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.
Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Halloween is a particularly deadly night due to drunk drivers. In 2015, over half (52 percent) of all highway fatalities across the nation Halloween night (6 p.m. Oct. 31 to 5:59 a.m. Nov. 1) involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.
The STOP-DWI Halloween Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and implemented by the STOP-DWI Foundation.
Throughout the remainder of the year, the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Thanksgiving and the national Holiday Season in December.
While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.
Have a safe and happy Halloween Weekend!