Redlands Police Will be out in Full Force to Catch Drunken Drivers

As summer winds down, the Redlands Police Department is ramping up its enforcement efforts as part of a national crackdown on drunk driving. The 18-day, high-visibility campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, is in partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety to curb impaired driving and save lives. From Aug. 21 through Sept. 7 (Labor Day), law enforcement partners in San Bernardino County, across the state and nationwide will show zero tolerance for drunken driving. Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of driving drunk, coupled with checkpoints and increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce the toll of drunken driving. And what a toll it is. In 2013, 10,076 people were killed in drunken-driving crashes, almost a third of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In California, 867 died in drunken driving collisions according to NHTSA. Thirty-eight percent of crash fatalities on Labor Day weekend that year involved drunken drivers with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher. A nd we’re not just talking about a little bit of alcohol, either. More than a quarter (27 percent) of the crash fatalities that occurred on Labor Day weekend involved drivers with BACs of .15 or higher – almost twice the illegal limit. The Redlands Police Department will conduct a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint beginning at 10 p.m. Thursday night, Aug. 27, through 3 a.m. Friday, along with four special DUI Saturation Patrols through Monday, Sept. 7. NHTSA data shows that repeat offenders are an especially dangerous facet of the drunken driving problem. In the month of August from 2009-2013, of the drunken drivers involved in fatal crashes, almost 1 out of 10 (8 percent) of them had already been convicted of at least one drunken-driving offense. Law Enforcement emphasizes the preventable nature of drunken driving reminding everyone that all it takes is a little planning ahead. Designate a sober driver or call a cab. But whatever you do, don’t drink and drive. The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate their life saving role. They can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen. Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects. So this August and year-round, remember that there’s no excuse for drunken or impaired driving. If you choose to break the law, police sheriff and CHP officials will see you before you see them. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Funding for this special campaign is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone; Report Drunk Drivers! – Call 9-1-1.