CA Initiative to Save Lives by Reducing Drunk Driving
The dangers of drunk driving are well known, yet thousands of victims are still injured or killed by drunk drivers each year. In California, 10,478 people suffered injuries as a result of DUI-related car wrecks in 2013 alone.
That same year, another 645 people lost their lives because of drunk driving. In an effort to make the highways safer and save lives, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the California Office of Traffic Safety have teamed up to launch a year-long anti-DUI campaign. The Reducing Impaired Driving II (RID) II campaign will run through September 30, 2016.
Reducing Impaired Driving campaign
The CHP plans to use a two-pronged approach to combat drunk driving during this campaign. It seeks to raise public awareness about the dangers of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. The CHP has also stated that it will step up its enforcement efforts.
“A DUI crash or arrest can be avoided by designating a sober driver, using public transit, calling a taxi, or by staying where you are for the night,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow, who went on to point out that driving only while sober also has economic advantages. “Spending a little money to get home safely is a bargain compared to the cost of a DUI arrest. The fine for a first-offense DUI along with associated costs can exceed $15,000.”
A DUI arrest can be costly in other ways. Individuals charged with DUI/DWI can expect to pay hefty legal fees, have a suspended or revoked driver’s license, and pay higher vehicle insurance premiums when driving privileges are reinstated – in addition to the possibility of serving time behind bars. Furthermore, there is always the possibility that the victim of a DUI-related crash or the victim’s surviving family members will file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the drunk driver.
Anti-drunk driving strategies
The CHP has acknowledged that by taking a few simple safeguards, Los Angeles residents and families throughout California can reduce the rate of DUIs. During its year-long campaign, the CHP plans to take on an active role in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” public awareness campaign.
The CHP also intends to conduct traffic safety presentations to raise public awareness that any amount of alcohol can impair a person’s ability to drive. State and local police departments will conduct saturation patrols throughout the state, along with DUI checkpoints. Additionally, the CHP urges the public to call 911 if they suspect that a driver is impaired. This helps police officers pull over suspected drunk drivers before they cause a car wreck and inflict injuries.
Legal advocates for victims of drunk drivers
Victims of DUI accidents and their families can turn to the attorneys at Ellis Law for expert legal advocacy and guidance. Call our Los Angeles law firm today at 310-641-3335 to schedule a no-obligation, no-cost case review and find out your options for legal recourse.