(Times
Square-NYC) - Officials and law enforcement
from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut
gathered at Times Square this morning,
as the Tri-State Traffic Safety Partners
formally announced the 2005 “You
Drink and Drive, You Lose” campaign,
which began Friday, August 19th and will
continue through Labor Day, September
5th. The famous NBC/Panasonic AstroVision
Times Square billboard provided the backdrop,
showing the “You Drink and Drive,
You Lose.” public service announcement.
The two week period is one of the deadliest
for DWI crashes in the United States.
The crackdown has law enforcement using
a zero tolerance approach, as the three
states join the national effort.
“As
we approach the Labor Day Weekend, law
enforcement officers statewide will be
enhancing their efforts to target and
apprehend impaired drivers,” said
Attorney General Peter C. Harvey. “Motorists
are reminded never to drink and drive.
The risks you take are great and the consequences
are severe.”
“On
a national level, fatalities in alcohol-related
crashes have decreased for a second year,”
said Roberto Rodriguez, Director of the
Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “New
Jersey has historically been several points
below the national average. This shows
that drivers are getting the all important
“You Drink and Drive, You lose”
message. New Jerseyans support tougher
enforcement and rank drunk driving ahead
of healthcare, poverty, the environment
and gun control as an important social
issue. The entire focus is to reduce injuries
and fatalities caused by impaired drivers.”
National
Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Dr.
Jeffrey W. Runge announced the most recent
statistics on DWI crashes and fatalities.
Among the luminaries joining Dr. Runge
were MADD National President Glynn Birch,
NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety
Director Roberto Rodriguez, NJ State Police
Lt. Col. Thomas Gilbert, and NHTSA Regional
Administrator Thomas Louizou, among other
dignitaries from the three states.
Nationwide,
alcohol-related crashes account for approximately
40 percent of all traffic fatalities each
year. In 2003, more than 17,000 people
were killed across America in impaired
driving-related highway crashes. In that
same year, New Jersey accounted for 275
alcohol-related fatalities.
The
Division has awarded over 100 grants to
police agencies statewide to conduct DWI
checkpoints and patrols over the two-week
mobilization period. However, many more
police departments will show their dedication
to eradicate drunk drivers from New Jersey’s
roadways by participating in the campaign
without grant assistance.
As
the Summer season builds to a finale in
the Garden State, the Division advises
you to be responsible and don’t
risk it. You will be caught if you drink
and drive. If you plan to drink, choose
a designated driver.. If you’re
on the road, report impaired drivers by
calling #77 on your cell phone. Enjoy
the rest of the Summer. Don’t drink
and drive, because if “You Drink
and Drive, You Lose!”
NJ
Division of Highway Traffic Safety 2005
“You Drink and Drive, You Lose”
Grants:
Atlantic:
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