Local and state officials are renewing their efforts to crack down on drunk driving.
The Raleigh Police Department is using a newly formed unit to curb vehicle crashes involving alcohol and drug use. City leaders focused on the Driving While Impaired Unit’s work at a Monday news conference. They held the event together with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.
Officials also announced the start of the “Holiday Booze It and Lose It” campaign. The anti-drunk driving initiative couples increased public outreach with enhanced law enforcement efforts. Starting today (Monday), law enforcement agencies across the state will step up patrols and sobriety checkpoints to get impaired drivers off the roads.
DWI Unit
RPD's DWI unit team members attend the news conference.
The DWI unit came about thanks to a $553,707 grant from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program.
The GHSP grant pays for three officers as part of a dedicated DWI Task Force. The funds also pay for equipment, supplies, and training. The task force educates Wake County residents about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Raleigh Mayor Jane Cowell has personal experience with how impaired driving can impact lives.
“My cousin was hit by a drunk driver and paralyzed from the waist down 27 years ago. I have seen firsthand how this tragic incident fundamentally changed his life and that of the entire family,” she said. “I’m grateful to the Governor’s Highway Safety program for focusing on the devastating impacts of driving while impaired and for this generous grant to help us keep residents in Raleigh safe.”
Educating the Public
Mark Ezzell, director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program (left); Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell (right)
Public education is an important part of the DWI unit’s mission, said Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce.
“Alcohol-related crashes are painful for everyone involved,” Boyce said. “The work of the DWI Unit is centered on stopping the kinds of tragic and entirely preventable incidents that change families’ lives forever.”
Mark Ezzell, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, agrees.
“Far too often, people make poor decisions that have serious and sometimes deadly consequences,” he said. “We’re hopeful this collaboration will reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries in the Raleigh area.”
Last year, 361 people died in the more than 11,000 alcohol-related crashes that occurred in the Tar Heel State. Nineteen of those alcohol-related traffic deaths occurred in Wake County.
Impaired driving is not only dangerous. It can also be expensive. People caught driving drunk can face jail time, loss of driving privileges and an average of $10,000 in fines, towing fees and other expenses.
On Monday, leaders reminded people to enjoy the holidays responsibly by following these tips:
- Never drink and drive.
- Instead, agree on a trusted designated sober driver ahead of time.
- Call a taxi or a rideshare service to get you to your destination.
After the news conference, Chief Boyce and his staff gave a tour of the training center.