"The holiday season is among the busiest travel times
of the year and with families traveling near and far to visit loved ones, our
law enforcement agencies will be redoubling their efforts to crack down on
dangerous and impaired drivers," Governor Cuomo said. "I ask all
motorists to stay safe, be responsible and obey the rules of the road in order
to avoid unnecessary tragedies."
In addition to the DWI checkpoints and patrols, Troopers
will be watching for distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly
buckled up, and drivers violating the "Move Over Law," which requires
motorists to exercise extreme caution when passing emergency vehicles that are
stopped in or on the side of the road. State Police will also conduct underage drinker
enforcement details statewide.
Superintendent George P. Beach II said, "Our members
work vigilantly year-round to keep our roadways safe and prevent the needless
tragedies that result from impaired and reckless driving. However, our goal
during the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign is to step up our efforts
during the holiday celebration season to reduce impaired driving crashes and
remind motorists to make responsible driving decisions. To ensure that your
holiday is a safe one for you and your loved ones, do not get behind the wheel
of a vehicle if you've been drinking and make safety a priority when traveling
this holiday season."
During the campaign, Troopers will be using both marked
State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles as
part of the operation. The CITE vehicles allow Troopers to more easily identify
motorists who are using handheld devices while driving. CITE vehicles allow the
Trooper to better observe distracted driving violations. These vehicles blend
in with every day traffic, but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the
emergency lighting is activated.
During last year's crackdown, State Police issued 33,153
tickets. Of those tickets more than 11,319 were for speeding, 1,107 were for
distracted driving and 421 for the "Move Over Law." There were also
571 people arrested for DWI and 15 people killed in a motor vehicle accident.
These traffic enforcement campaigns are funded by the Governor's Traffic Safety
Committee.
Terri Egan, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York
State Department of Motor Vehicles and Acting GTSC Chair, said "The
holidays are a wonderful time of year, and we want New Yorkers to celebrate
them responsibly and safely. Don't end the year with a tragedy or an arrest.
Make a plan for how you will get home before you head out for an evening to
celebrate with family and friends."
The Have a Plan app can help. The free app from the
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and the NYS STOP-DWI Foundation allows you
to designate a driver, call a cab or ride share, and to review the consequences
of impaired driving. You can even use the app to report a drunk or drugged
driver. The app is available for Apple, Android, and Windows smart phones.
During last year's crackdown, State Police issued 33,153
tickets. Of those tickets more than 11,319 were for speeding, 1,107 were for
distracted driving and 421 for the "Move Over Law." There were also
571 people arrested for DWI and 15 people killed in a motor vehicle accident.
To keep our roads safer this holiday season, the New York
State Police and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offer these
tips:
•Plan a safe way home before the celebrating begins;
•Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
•If you're impaired, use a taxi or ride sharing service,
call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
•Use your community's sober ride program;
•If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't
hesitate to contact local law enforcement;
•If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while
impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their
destination safely.
