Crime & Safety

Sheriff's Office Reminds Motorists to Stay Sober, Buckle up

The holidays are the deadliest time of year on America's roads, be sure to make good decisions when driving.

The holidays are the perfect time to catch up with friends and family. Many people enjoy some cocktails while hanging out with friends, or maybe throw back a few beers while watching a football game. According to the Carroll County Sheriff's Department, the holidays also lend themselves to traffic accidents.

The AAA projects that 2 million motorists will travel by car to visit family and friends this holiday season. Carroll County Sheriff's Deputies will be out in extra force this holiday season to protect motorists from drunk, drugged, and aggressive drivers, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Department.

The holiday season, especially between Christmas and New Year's Eve, is one of the busiest and deadliest time for our nation's roads, with a high incidence of sleep and alcohol-related fatalities the news release said.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 1,700 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes and/or crashes where safety belts were not used during the 2008 holiday season - the most recent year statistics are available. 

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Major Phillip S. Kasten of the Carroll County Sheriff's Department said that during the 2009 holiday season, Carroll County Sheriff's Deputies investigated 38 motor vehicle collisions and made 21 arrests for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. 

With alcoholic beverages a historical part of holiday celebrations, Sheriff Kenneth L. Tregoning urges everyone, "to drink responsibly or designate a sober driver before consuming any alcohol." 

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To help everyone reach their destination, additional patrols of Sheriff's Deputies will be in place throughout the holiday season to identify and remove impaired and aggressive drivers from the road.  So enjoy a cocktail with friends or a beer for the game, but make sure you are prepared to drive or have a designated driver or you may spend some of your holidays with a Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy.

 


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