Smith said that sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Kent Police Department were on the lookout for drunk drivers over the Memorial Day weekend, and it seems the increased visibility of patrols did have the desired deterrent effect, as no drivers checked during the weekend enforcement detail were found to be driving under the influence.
The stepped-up patrols were the latest action in ongoing efforts aimed at deterring intoxicated or impaired driving and is part of a statewide STOP-DWI crackdown effort.
“The Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of the summer season, and with it comes picnics, pool parties and excursions to the beach,” said Divernieri. “Unfortunately, those summertime activities all too often result in some people drinking too much and then driving – a deadly combination that we are trying to deter,” he said.
Historically, holiday festivities usually give rise to increased incidents of impaired driving and drinking-related crashes, resulting in injuries and deaths on New York roadways. In an effort to deter driving while intoxicated offenses around holidays, the state police, county sheriffs, and local law enforcement agencies across the state go on heightened alert looking for impaired drivers with increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities, too many lives are still being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers, Smith said.
Highly visible and highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunken and impaired driving. Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce fatalities caused by drunken driving by as much as 20 percent.
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