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Published on Wednesday, December 22, 2004
in the Hernando Today
Motorists driving along U.S. 19 Thursday morning probably saw several vehicles pulled over by Florida Highway Patrol units.
It was the first day of the FHP's annual "wolf pack" blitz to nab speeders, drunk and unsafe drivers.
The additional troopers will be out the rest of this week and into the New Year's weekend.
Alcohol remains the single largest cause of traffic-related fatalities and injuries in the U.S. according to AA Auto Club South. More than 17,000 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2003, an average of one fatality every 31 minutes.
"Alcohol is a factor in nearly 40 percent of all traffic deaths, and that figure usually increases significantly around the holidays." said Kevin Bakewell, vice president of public & government relations for AAA Auto Club South.
If people are at a holiday party and plan to drink, they should make sure they can drive home with a sober friend or family member, call a cab or spend the night at the party, according to AAA.
The auto club will also offer its annual "Tow to Go" program, available to any adult, AAA member or non-member.
People can call 1-800-AAA-HELP and AAA will dispatch a tow truck and take the driver and vehicle home, free of charge.