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The Cleveland Police Department is urging driver to not drink and drive on St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday, March 17.
The Cleveland Police Department is urging driver to not drink and drive on St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday, March 17.
According to a press release from CPD, they are joining the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Georgia State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies to remind drivers to find a designated driver before when they go out for St. Patrick's Day. There is a zero tolerance policy for drunk driving, the release said.
“Drinking and driving is a selfish decision that not only endangers the life of the drunk driver, but everyone on the road,” Cleveland Police Chief Jeffrey Shoemaker said. “A DUI arrest can cost up to $10,000 in fines and fees and could cost someone their job or prevent them from being hired. Save a life and save your money by arranging a ride with a sober driver or ride service before your celebration begins.”
The release stated that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 57 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in the United States in 2019 over a 36-hour period from 6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. on March 18, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the release said. Three out of five fatal crashes in 2019 during this 36-hour period in the United States involved a drunk driver. One person was killed by drunk driver every 52 minutes on United States roads in 2019.
In Georgia, alcohol was a factor in almost one out of every four traffic deaths in 2019, the release said. According to data from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 353 people killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in Georgia in 2019. The number of alcohol-impaired fatalities in Georgia has increased by 18 percent over the last ten years.
“All drunk driving deaths are completely preventable because they are caused by someone choosing to drive when they know they should not be behind the wheel,” Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole said. “Eliminating all drunk driving deaths is a team effort, and we ask everyone to join our team by choosing not to drive after drinking and not let others you know that have been drinking get behind the wheel.”
The Cleveland Police Department and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety offer the following tips to help prevent drunk driving crashes and deaths:
· Plan ahead for a ride with a sober driver when alcohol is going to be part of whatever you are planning.
· Designate a sober driver before going out. Be a good friend and rotate being the designated driver.
· Reward designated drivers with non-alcoholic drinks.
· Be a good friend by arranging a sober ride for a friend who is about to drive after drinking.
· Report any suspected drunk driver on the road to your local law enforcement agency.