Press release:
Genesee County STOP DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced today that Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, 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.
While we spend Halloween trick-or-treating and hosting parties with our loved ones, law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives. The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on Oct. 30th and will end on Nov. 1st. New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.
Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. A review of Halloween Nights (2009-2013) shows 43 percent of all motor-vehicle deaths involved drunk driving.
Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem. The STOP-DWI Halloween 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 from a grant through GTSC. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target Thanksgiving and the national Holiday Season in December.
Undersheriff William Sheron said: “We know that there is a historic increase in impaired driving around Halloween. It only makes sense to increase our patrols during this time and we will.”
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. It is significant to note that in 2013, 26 percent of the fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween involved drunk drivers.
Stay safe this Halloween, don't drink and drive -- get a ride. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. Have a safe and happy Halloween Weekend!
