Author: American Beverage Institute Published on Sep 14, 2006,
07:33
In light of the fact that drunk driving deaths in California jumped by
5.5% in 2005, the American Beverage Institute (ABI) is urging state law
enforcement officials to abandon their ineffective roadblock
campaigns.
According to the newly released National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) data on 2005 alcohol-related fatalities, there
were 76 more people killed in drunk driving fatalities in California last
year than in 2004.
"It is time for California to reevaluate how it is addressing its
drunk driving problem," said ABI Executive Director John Doyle. "Rather
than rely on roadblocks, as California does, the state should invest more
of their law enforcement resources in roving police patrols."
According to a landmark NHTSA study, "the number of DWI arrests made
by the roving patrol program was nearly three times the average number of
DWIs made by the checkpoint programs."
The newly released NHTSA data also reinforce the superiority of roving
patrols over roadblocks:
- The 11 states that do not operate roadblocks experienced a
collective drop of 91 fewer alcohol-related fatalities in 2005 compared
to 2004; - The 39 states (plus the District of Columbia) that operate
roadblocks saw a collective increase in alcohol-related deaths;
and - If non-roadblock states are removed from the equation, there would
have been a net increase in nationwide alcohol-related fatalities last
year.
"It is incumbent upon the states to use the most effective measures
available, and clearly the data show that roving patrols are much more
effective than roadblocks at getting drunk drivers off the road," said
Doyle.
The American Beverage Institute is an association of restaurants
committed to the responsible serving of adult beverages. To learn more
visit: http://www.americanbeverageinstitute.com/.
© Copyright 2006 YubaNet.com
Source: http://www.YubaNet.com
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