By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — The Metuchen Police Department will join other law enforcement departments by participating in the national annual end of the year “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign.
The campaign runs from Dec. 9 to Jan. 1. Local and state law enforcement officials will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” effort led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration endeavors to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education.
The Metuchen Police Department has participated in the campaign for several years.
“During the last five years, New Jersey has experienced approximately 41,000 alcohol-involved crashes resulting in more than 800 fatalities,” said Police Sgt. Arthur Flaherty. “This is a critical law enforcement program that can save lives during a time of the year when impaired driving traditionally increases by nearly 10 percent.”
Last year, 29 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Nationally, more than 10,000 people die each year in drunken driving crashes. The societal cost associated with these crashes is estimated to be $37 billion annually.