JOHNSTOWN — The Fulton County police agencies will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving. The statewide Stop-Driving While Intoxicated crackdown efforts start on Friday and will end on Monday, according to a news release.
The Super Bowl is America’s most watched national sporting event and Super Bowl weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. The New York State Police, county sheriffs and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol related injuries and deaths.
The research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.
While Stop DWI efforts across the state have led to reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities. Yet too many lives are being lost due to crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Impaired driving is completely preventable with some planning. Anyone who is hosting a Super Bowl party, designate a responsible driver before the game begins.
The Super Bowl weekend crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State Stop-DWI Association with additional funding from the STOP-DWI Foundation, courtesy of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The statewide crackdown campaign also targets St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend, Halloween and the national holiday season in December.
The foundation has created a Mobile App — “Have a Plan” that is available as a free download for smart phones to help find safe rides home no matter where one may be celebrating. Go to www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp or visit your app store.
