11/19/2009
ITD promotes safe driving behaviors through education and law enforcement support
BOISE - Promoting safe driving behaviors through public education and providing grants for law enforcement highway safety mobilizations demonstrate two important ways the Idaho Transportation Department is committed to improving safety on the state's highways.
Each year, ITD's Office of Highway Operations and Safety asks citizens through media and other outreach activities to wear a seat belt at all times and to avoid driving aggressively, while impaired or while distracted. At the same time, ITD's law enforcement partners participate in targeted overtime patrol efforts funded through a federal grant administered by ITD.
Patrol efforts frequently uncover more violations than those targeted.
The recent Labor Day impaired driving mobilization netted 392 impaired drivers statewide between Aug. 24 and Sept. 7.
In addition to the impaired driving arrests, officers from 49 Idaho law enforcement agencies apprehended 187 fugitives, made 124 felony arrests and 225 drug arrests. Three stolen vehicles also were recovered.
Citations were issued for a number of violations, including:
- 61 child safety seat citations
- 142 minors in possession of alcohol
- 99 reckless driving citations
- 802 safety belt violations
- 3,543 speeding citations
- 474 suspended license citations
- 1,213 uninsured motorist citations
ITD and Idaho law enforcement agencies will partner for more highway safety mobilizations in the coming months, said Kevin Bechen with ITD.
Impaired driving mobilizations are planned through Nov. 30. Other scheduled mobilizations are: Dec. 18-Jan. 1, 2010; March 12-27; July 1-12; and Aug. 27-Sept. 7.
During 2010, seat belt mobilizations are planned for May 24-June 6 and Sept. 10-20. Two aggressive driving mobilizations are planned for next year -- April 1-12 and July 15-26.
"ITD is committed to reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries on Idaho roads consistent with its long-term goal of 'Toward Zero Deaths because Every Life Counts,'" said Mary Hunter, ITD's highway safety manager.