CT DOT issues Memorial Day weekend advice. So do police, lots of police
A Memorial Day weekend warning has been issued in Connecticut. It starts with “Drive Sober…”
The Connecticut Department of Transportation, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and state and local law enforcement teams will have the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign going over the long weekend, according to the agencies.
The impaired driving awareness campaign “seeks to encourage safe driving throughout the Memorial Day weekend,” according to the agencies.
And this is why: the NHTSA reports that about 37 people in the United States die daily in drunken driving crashes, which translates to one person every 39 minutes, and 13,524 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths in 2022.
Further, in Connecticut in 2022, “the last year of verifiable data, 127 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes, which accounted for nearly 35% of all fatalities in the state,” according to the agencies.
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“As we welcome the unofficial start of the summer season, it’s crucial to prioritize safety during celebrations. If you are drinking alcohol, make sure you have a sober ride home,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, in an emailed statement. “It is possible to enjoy the holiday and obey traffic safety laws intended to ensure everyone makes it home safely. I’m grateful for CTDOT’s partnership with the state and local police who will be on the lookout for impaired drivers this holiday weekend.”
And on Friday, May 24, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., the Hartford Police Department Traffic Division will be out in force tom and will conduct a OUI Enforcement Checkpoint. in the area New Park Avenue, according to a department spokesman.
“The checkpoint is part of the Hartford Police Department’s ongoing expanded OUI enforcement program supervised by the HPD’s Traffic Division and funded through a grant from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation OUI Enforcement Program,” the spokesman said.
Connecticut State Police Commanding Officer Colonel Daniel Loughman noted, that, in gearing up for Memorial Day weekend, “let’s remember the true purpose of this holiday: honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
“As we celebrate, let’s also prioritize safety on the roads. Troopers will be on patrol across the entire state on the lookout for impaired drivers,” he said. “Your choices behind the wheel affect not only your life but also the lives of those around you.”
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And Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Chief Joshua Bernegger said, “Connecticut’s police officers will be actively patrolling the state’s roadways this Memorial Day weekend looking for impaired drivers. Let’s all do our part to keep our highways safe. Drive sober or get pulled over.”
DOT tips for safety:
- Never drink and drive. Even a single alcoholic beverage can impair your ability to drive.
- Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
- Utilize rideshare programs or public transit if available.
- Report drunk drivers to local law enforcement.
- Prevent friends from driving drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive after drinking, take their keys and arrange a safe way for them to get home.