SOMERVILLE – Police in Somerset and Hunterdon counties will crack down on drunk drivers during the holiday season as part of the annual statewide Drive Sober or Get Stopped campaign.
Through the New Year, local, county and state law enforcement officers will conduct patrols and checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said.
“Over the past five years, there have been more than 33,000 alcohol-related crashes in New Jersey, resulting in 662 deaths,” the prosecutor said. increase the risk of driving in a dangerous condition.”
Last year, 23% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. In 2020, 11,654 people died in accidents while driving under the influence of alcohol.
The public costs associated with these accidents are estimated at $44 billion annually, McDonald said.
According to the prosecutor, the goal of the “Drive Sober or Get Stopped” campaign is to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of strict control measures and public education.
Law enforcement agencies in the company offer the following vacation tips:
- Take public transportation, a taxi, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
- Spend the night where there is an event or party.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions can save someone’s life, and inaction can cost someone their life.
- Always buckle up, every ride. This is 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 taxi or ask a sober friend or family member to give you a ride or walk you to your doorstep.
- To be responsible. If someone you know drinks, don’t let them get behind the wheel.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Dyck is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. For unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon Counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.
