Crime & Safety

Campaign Begins to Crack Down on Drunk Drivers

The police department has begun "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."

The Bridgewater Township Police Department is cracking down on drunk drivers for the end of the summer season, as the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign has begun.

According to a release from the department, the program began Aug. 17, and will run through Sept. 3, with sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.

The campaign, the release said, is designed to help raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through enforcement and public education tools, like posters, banners and mobile video display signs. The program was initially  launched in 1999, and serves to create enforcement during busy travel times, including the Labor Day holiday weekend.

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"Many people believe that after a few drinks, they're still safe to drive," said Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road, in danger."

According to the release, in 2010, alcohol-impaired fatalities were 20 percent of New Jersey motor vehicle fatalities. The program, run by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, is maintained by grants given to local law enforcmeent agencies, including Bridgewater Township Police.

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Local police departments provide these tips to avoid drinking and driving:

  • If you are going to drink, designate a driver who will not be drinking at all.
  • Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to give you a ride home.
  • Spend the night where the activity is being held.
  • Report impaired drivers to law enforcement officials.
  • Always buckle your seatbelt, no matter where you are seated in the car.
  • If you're intoxicated and traveling on foot, take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep.


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