Press release:
Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of Le Roy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.
The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on July 3rd and will end on July 6th. The 4th of July extended weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. This year the 4th of July falls on a Saturday so we expect heavy traveling to begin on Thursday July 2nd and festivities to begin on Friday July 3rd and run through Monday July 6th.
Americans love to celebrate Independence Day with family, friends, food and fireworks, but all too often the festivities turn tragic on the nation's roads. The fact is, this iconic American holiday is also one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunk-driving crashes.
According to data from NHTSA, during July 4th holiday period over the last five years (from 2009 to 2013), 750 people lost their lives in crashes involving drivers with a BAC of .08 or more. These fatalities account for 39 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities over this same five-year period. The New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to aggressively target those who put lives in danger.
Undersheriff William Sheron said, “The traffic volume will increase on and around the 4th of July. All drivers will need to take extra precautions and drive defensively. Drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs add to the danger on our highways. That is why the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office will have extra patrols out, dedicated to DWI enforcement, over this holiday weekend.”
The 4th of July Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association. The Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign also targets Labor Day Weekend, Halloween 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.
