Law enforcement will have zero tolerance for impaired drivers

The Georgia State Patrol is making final preparations for the New Year’s holiday travel period, which will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, and end Monday, Jan. 2. The travel period is 78-hours long.
Colonel Mark W. McDonough, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said Georgia State Troopers will patrol during the holiday period in an effort to keep the number of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities as low as possible. “We know from past experience that speed, alcohol, and failing to use seat belts are the primary contributing factors in fatal crashes,” McDonough said. “Drivers traveling during the holidays should put safety first by wearing a seat belt, obeying the posted speed limit, avoiding distractions inside vehicles, and by being courteous to other drivers,” the commissioner added.
Last year, the travel period was also 78-hours long. During the 2015-2016 New Year’s travel period, there were 412 crashes and 235 injuries reported. In addition, troopers investigated seven fatal crashes that resulted in 10 fatalities.
During this year’s New Year’s holiday travel period, Georgia State Troopers will team up with law enforcement officials from across the state for “Operation Zero Tolerance”, a high visibility enforcement campaign, which targets impaired drivers. “Enjoy the holidays, but if you drive impaired, you will go to jail,” said the commissioner. During last year’s New Year’s holiday period, 329 arrests were made for driving under the influence. “If you know that you will be consuming alcoholic beverages, plan ahead to have a designated driver,” he added.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has produced an app to help Georgians find free sober rides. The Sober Rides app description states it “provides a listing of all free taxi and other anti-DUI driving services available in the State of Georgia. Don’t take a chance on getting a DUI or in a crash, click on the service in your area and schedule a free ride home today.”