FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12-22-10 205PM

Law Enforcement agencies from throughout Contra Costa are out in force in a crackdown on impaired drivers. The effort will continue through New Year’s weekend.

DUI driver’s license checkpoints, multi-agency DUI task force deployments and local roving DUI patrols are scheduled locally in partnership with law enforcement nationwide during the winter holidays.

During last year’s winter campaign, 36 Californians were killed and 1,168 injured in DUI-related crashes. In Contra Costa County, three were killed and another 25 injured in collisions involving alcohol consumption. In last year’s winter campaign, dubbed Avoid the 25, agencies arrested 272 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Keep the holidays and every day happy for you, your family and friends by not drinking and driving,” said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver. If you find yourself having celebrated too much, call a friend or taxi. The alternatives could ruin everyone’s holiday.”

Funding for Avoid the 25 is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Observe the following tips for a safe holiday season:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.

• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.

• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.

• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to call 911.

• And remember, friends don’t let friends drive drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take the car keys and help make other transportation arrangements.

For more information on local and statewide DUI task force campaigns, enforcement schedules and daily DUI arrest/fatality statistics, visit www.californiaavoid.org.

###