Tuesday, May 23, 2017

News release - regional impaired driving emphasis by law enforcement agencies over Memorial Day weekend

News release - regional impaired driving emphasis by law enforcement agencies
For immediate release, May 23, 2017
Contact:
Tim Marsano
Public Information Officer, Idaho State Police
208.884.7122
tim.marsano@isp.idaho.gov



Memorial Day marks the beginning of long days filled with sunshine, barbeques and activities with family and friends, however for far too many it also means that loved ones are lost in motor vehicle crashes. Memorial Day through Labor Day is known as the "100 Deadliest Days" on Idaho's roads and historically it is the time of year when there are more deaths and serious injuries due to dangerous driving behaviors.

Law enforcement in Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce (Idaho), Asotin and Whitman (Washington) counties along with the Idaho State Police and Washington State Patrol are partnering to stop impaired driving, one of the most deadly and preventable causes of crashes with a regional impaired driving emphasis over Memorial Weekend. In addition to impaired drivers, law enforcement will be aggressively enforcing all hazardous driving behaviors such as distracted driving, aggressive driving and occupants not wearing seat belts.

The agencies participating in the regional impaired driving emphasis include the following:

Asotin County Sheriff's Office
Asotin Police Department
Clarkston Police Department
Clearwater County Sheriff's Office
Grangeville Police Department
Idaho County Sheriff's Office
Idaho State Police
Kamiah Marshall's Office
Latah County Sheriff's Office
Lewis County Sheriff's Office
Lewiston Police Department
Moscow Police Department
Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office
Nez Perce Tribal Police Department
Orofino Police Department
Pullman Police Department
Washington State Patrol
Whitman County Sheriff's Office

Law enforcement will continue to work as one team throughout the summer with the goal of reducing deadly crashes caused by dangerous driving behaviors including impaired drivers, distracted drivers, aggressive drivers, speed, as well as, seatbelt enforcement. The Idaho Department of Transportation's Office of Highway Safety is providing grant funds that will allow law enforcement agencies to pay for extra patrols dedicated to traffic law enforcement.

You can easily avoid becoming a DUI statistic but you must PLAN AHEAD.

- PLAN not drink and drive before you start drinking. Alcohol impairs a person's ability to determine if they should drive. You can't count on making the right decision after you've consumed alcohol!

- Designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.

- Plan to call a taxi, a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.

- Offer non-alcoholic beverages when entertaining.

- Promptly report drunk drivers to 9-1-1 or *ISP (*477) on your mobile phone.

- Wear your seat belt. This is the best defense against an impaired driver.

- Friends don't let friends drive drunk or impaired. If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their car keys and make other safe travel arrangements to get them home, or offer a spare bedroom or sofa to "sleep it off."

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