Statewide crackdown on drunken driving begins on Friday

August 17, 2009

"Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest" from August 21 to September 7

To combat the deadly dangers of drunken driving, more than 300 law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin will be out in force to arrest impaired motorists as part of the nationwide "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest" crackdown from August 21 through September 7.

Drunken driving is prevalent and deadly in Wisconsin. Last year, alcohol-related crashes in Wisconsin killed 234 people and injured 4,319, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Approximately 37,000 drivers—a number nearly equal to the population of Beloit—were convicted of drunken driving in Wisconsin in 2008. This year, deaths from motorcycle crashes are increasing compared with last year, and approximately 47 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes in Wisconsin are alcohol-related.

"Every law enforcement officer hopes that people will choose to drive sober," says Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "But if they make the irresponsible choice to drive while under the influence of alcohol, we’ll be ready to arrest them. We also ask that citizens report any drunken drivers they see by calling a law enforcement agency or dialing 911. Too many individuals, too many families, and too many communities are devastated nearly everyday by drunken drivers. And this careless disregard for human life must stop. If we can deter people from getting behind the wheel when they’re impaired, we will make progress toward the goal of reducing the number of preventable traffic deaths to Zero in Wisconsin."

Instead of risking an arrest for impaired driving, the State Patrol offers the following suggestions:

• Choose a sober designated driver before you start to drink.
• If you’re feeling buzzed, you likely are over the 0.08 (alcohol concentration) limit and should not drive.
• Rather than drive while impaired, take mass transit, a taxicab or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Some taverns and restaurants have programs to provide patrons with a safe ride home. (Visit www.tlw.org and click on Safe Ride for more information.)

For more information, contact:
Dennis Hughes, (608) 267-9075, dennis.hughes@dot.wi.gov
George Silverwood, (608) 266-9860, george.silverwood@dot.wi.gov