There’s another round of federal grants that’s helping to get more officers on the road and targeting dangerous drivers. The new extra patrols will be used for one thing — busting drunk drivers.
This increase in patrols is part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative. Our Boston drunk driving car accident lawyers discussed this national campaign in a recent blog posting. It’s organized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, according to The Milford Daily News.
Our Milford drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that most of these patrols will be out on our streets during the evening hours. That’s when these kinds of accidents are most likely to happen. Officers will also be increasing patrols during the weekends, when risks for these incidents are also much higher.
“We want to get the biggest bang for the buck,” said Marlborough Capt. Timothy Naze .
Areas receiving federal grants to bust drunk drivers:
-$8,000 grant: Franklin
-$3,300 each in grants: Westborough, Shrewsbury, Marlborough and Franklin.
-$800 each in grants: Wayland, Uxbridge, Upton, Southborough, Mendon, Hopkinton and Holliston.
There are 12 local cities and towns are among the near 130 Massachusetts departments that are participating in the program. During this time, officers will be on the lookout for drivers who they believe are intoxicated behind the wheel. They’ll also be ready to take your call to report a driver who you feel is intoxicated behind the wheel.
“Any additional funds to law enforcement in this budgetary environment are valuable,” said Police Chief Richard Flannery with the Hopkinton department.
In 2010, there were more than 14,000 drivers in the state of Massachusetts who were charged with drunk driving. Alcohol played a roll in the traffic fatalities of nearly 120 people during that year. The summer season and holiday weekend are the most dangerous.
Someone was killed in an alcohol-related car accident in 2010 every 51 minutes. These kinds of traffic accidents accounted for about a third of all accident fatalities. What’s most alarming about these crashes is that they’re completely preventable, yet intoxicated drivers continue to get behind the wheel and put the safety of innocent people in jeopardy.
Drivers are asked to make sober plans to get home during the remainder of the summer season and through the Labor Day weekend. You can designate a sober driver for your night, you can take the T, you can call a cab or you can get in touch with a friend or a family member to come pick you up. Never should there be a time when you get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. If you need to rent a hotel room or stay at a friend’s house you should. All of these alternatives are much less expensive than a drunk driving arrest or a trip to the hospital. You should do this not only to avoid a costly arrest, but to also avoid a potentially fatal accident. Safe and responsible driving habits are your best bet to staying alive and out of jail.
If you have been involved in a drunk driving accident, call the Law Office of Jeffrey S. Glassman, LLC for a free and confidential consultation. Call (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
DUI enforcement amped up in 12 communities, by Michael Morton, The Milford Daily News
More Blog Entries:
Increased Patrols Busting More Drunk Drivers in Massachusetts, Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog, August 6, 2012
Officials Work to Keep Young Drivers from Drinking, Protecting Victims’ Rights, Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog, August 1, 2012