Federal transportation officials have joined New York City metropolitan area traffic safety officials to kick off the largest ever “You Drink & Drive, You Lose” national enforcement crackdown.
Nationwide, a record number of 11,500 law enforcement agencies are participating in the coast-to-coast crackdown.
"We encourage anyone planning on drinking alcohol to be responsible and designate a sober driver," said National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jeffrey Runge, M.D. "With checkpoints, roving patrols, undercover officers and concerned citizens, chances are if you drive impaired this holiday you will be arrested, booked and prosecuted."
Impaired driving is one of America's most often committed and deadliest crimes. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.4 million people nationwide were arrested in 2003 for driving under the influence.
Dr. Runge released NHTSA's 2004 state alcohol-related fatalities statistics. Nationally, nearly 13,000 people died in highway crashes involving at least a driver or motorcycle rider with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher.
Overall, alcohol-related fatalities declined by 2.4 percent in 2004 from 2003, the second consecutive year in which alcohol-related fatalities have declined. A total of 32 states and the District of Columbia showed a decline in alcohol-related fatalities in 2004 from 2003.
NHTSA projects that 510 people will die in automobile crashes during the Labor Day holiday and about half (260) will be alcohol-related.
The crackdown is complemented by a $13.9 million national advertising campaign that puts drivers on notice that if they drive impaired they will be caught and prosecuted.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.StopImpaireddriving.org.
Nationwide, a record number of 11,500 law enforcement agencies are participating in the coast-to-coast crackdown.
"We encourage anyone planning on drinking alcohol to be responsible and designate a sober driver," said National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jeffrey Runge, M.D. "With checkpoints, roving patrols, undercover officers and concerned citizens, chances are if you drive impaired this holiday you will be arrested, booked and prosecuted."
Impaired driving is one of America's most often committed and deadliest crimes. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.4 million people nationwide were arrested in 2003 for driving under the influence.
Dr. Runge released NHTSA's 2004 state alcohol-related fatalities statistics. Nationally, nearly 13,000 people died in highway crashes involving at least a driver or motorcycle rider with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher.
Overall, alcohol-related fatalities declined by 2.4 percent in 2004 from 2003, the second consecutive year in which alcohol-related fatalities have declined. A total of 32 states and the District of Columbia showed a decline in alcohol-related fatalities in 2004 from 2003.
NHTSA projects that 510 people will die in automobile crashes during the Labor Day holiday and about half (260) will be alcohol-related.
The crackdown is complemented by a $13.9 million national advertising campaign that puts drivers on notice that if they drive impaired they will be caught and prosecuted.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.StopImpaireddriving.org.
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