HELENA - As part of the national Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown, law enforcement agencies across Montana will deploy extra patrols to prevent impaired driving during the final weeks of the summer season. Saturation patrols for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) enforcement are set for Aug. 19 through Labor Day, Sept. 5.
“More than half of roadway fatalities in Montana each year involve an impaired driver and this is unacceptable,” said Colonel Tom Butler of the Montana Highway Patrol. “We are on the lookout every day for impaired drivers but as the summer winds down, more people participate in activities involving alcohol. That’s why we have more officers on duty to encourage every driver to be sober.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration high-visibility enforcement can reduce alcohol related driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.
“Arrange for a sober ride before the drinking begins,” encouraged Butler “Because the fun will end abruptly if you’re driving drunk and we stop and arrest you, or worse yet, you get into a crash and injure or kill someone.”
The public is encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911 and by ensuring their friends and family have a driver who hasn’t been drinking. The best defense against a drunk driver is wearing a seatbelt, so also be sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.
Extra traffic safety patrols are funded by the Montana Department of Transportation. This and other enforcement and education campaigns are combined under Vision Zero, the shared vision for zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. Contact Charity Watt, Montana Department of Transportation 406-444-3439, cwatt@mt.gov
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