Published on Thursday, December 21, 2006
in the High Springs Herald

Police: drive carefully, designate a driver for a safe holiday season

Police officers from area law enforcement areas are reminding residents to be safe while on the rods this holiday season.

Major Clayton Reiter with the Alachua Police Department said that one aspect of responsibility during the holidays includes arranging for a designated driver when attending events where alcohol is served.

Driving under the influence of alcohol can be a problem during the holidays, especially around New Year’s Eve, he said, so residents need to keep that in mind and stay safe.

“We just primarily want to promote safety and make sure that everybody gets home in a safe manner,” he said.

To address problems involving residents who decide to drink and drive, he said, the police department began a special traffic enforcement program Dec. 18 that will run through Jan. 1.

Also, officers conducted two vehicle safety checkpoints Dec. 16 for a 4-hour period, and additional checkpoints may also be conducted during the holidays, Reiter said.

Other operations will concentrate on different aspects of traffic safety and making sure that officers are in the public eye during the holiday season, he said.

In High Springs, police also will be on the lookout for speeders and other traffic violators during the holidays, said Sgt. Gordon Fulwood with the High Springs Police Department.

The department plans on working in conjunction with the Florida Highway Patrol at DUI checkpoints Dec. 29, he said, and be out in full force during the holidays.

Although some people can be in a hurry to get gifts and get home to be with family during this time of year, Fulwood said, speeding on the roads is not an effective way to save time.

Statistically, he said, speeders still have to deal with traffic to a point that driving fast doesn’t save much time.

Plus, he said, speeders have the added disadvantage of having less time to react to situations on the road, which can lead to more traffic accidents.

“Slow down and pay attention,” Fulwood said, offering advice to drivers. “We will be out there, and we will be enforcing the speed limit.”

Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol also will be cracking down on unsafe driving during the holidays, said Lt. Mike Burroughs.

The FHP will have about double their normal capacity of troopers patrolling the roads during the holidays, he said, and also will have special DUI-enforcement squads with a zero-tolerance policy both for drunk driving and underage drinking.

Oftentimes, small mistakes are what can lead to major accidents, he said.

Motorists should drive while alert and undistracted and always should wear a seat belt, he said.

He said that driving while buzzed or drunk is a problem during the holidays because of all the holiday parties that people attend.

Anyone who goes to such a party should plan ahead by designating a driver who will not drink alcohol.

Also, those who are throwing the parties can be a better host by providing non-alcoholic beverages for those who will drive after the party.

And for an alternative for anyone who chooses to drink, he said, a program called Tow To Go will pick up any impaired licensed driver and take both that driver and their vehicle home for free without contacting law enforcement.

Anyone who wants to use the program should call 1-800-AAA-HELP.

“We are encouraging everyone to have a joyful time and a fun time but to do it safely,” Burroughs said, “and the best way to do that is by planning ahead.”