6/20/2012
Statewide campaign catches more than impaired drivers; another planned for Fourth of July holiday
BOISE - Ensuring safe travel on Idaho highways is a prime reason for high-visibility education and enforcement campaigns that target impaired driving, such as one planned statewide over the Fourth of July holiday, June 29 – July 13.
Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety works with partners statewide to reduce deaths and injuries from traffic crashes by addressing impaired driving. This effort is part of the department’s commitment to safety and to achieve a goal of zero deaths on Idaho highways.
According to statistics gathered by ITD, 72 agencies statewide participated in the recent St. Patrick’s Day safety effort to eliminate impaired driving. These efforts identified not only impaired drivers, but those who were involved in dangerous driving behaviors or caught breaking traffic laws as well.
Law enforcement officers made 204 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests across the state during the eight-day period from March 10 to March 18. In addition to the DUI arrests, law enforcement officers apprehended 203 fugitives, made 141 felony arrests, recorded 56 drug arrests and recovered seven stolen vehicles.
A number of additional citations also were issued during the campaign. These included 120 seat belt citations, 25 child passenger safety and youth seat belt citations, 213 suspended license citations, 836 uninsured motorist citations, 892 speeding citations, and 135 reckless driving citations.
“We encourage every driver to make smart choices when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle or motorcycle,” said Kevin Bechen, with ITD. “ITD and its highway safety partners are committed to doing everything we can to help keep families safe and whole as we work Towards Zero Deaths on all of Idaho’s roadways.”