The Official Website of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS)

Public Safety

Contact:

State Police Office of Media Relations
Daytime (508) 820-2623
Nights & Weekends (508) 820-2121

September 03, 2009 - For immediate release:

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, State Police and Local Police Departments Urge Safe Labor Day Driving

As part of their continued effort to keep Massachusetts roadways safe, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), the Massachusetts State Police, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and more than 240 local police departments are raising awareness about the dangers of operating under the influence and the statewide drunk driving crackdown currently underway.

The Commonwealth’s "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest" mobilization, which began Aug. 14 and runs through Sept. 7, is funded by EOPSS with $779,000 in federal grant money. During the mobilization, Massachusetts State Police and 240 local law enforcement agencies conduct extra high-visibility traffic enforcement, and a coordinated public education campaign. State Police alone are rolling an additional 330 patrols, above and beyond their regular patrols.

"We want people to have fun, but we want them to do so responsibly. This message is especially important right before the Labor Day holiday," said Lt. Steven Walsh, commander of the Massachusetts State Police Traffic Programs Section."Our traffic safety efforts are intended to compel Massachusetts drivers to think about the decisions they make before they get behind the wheel, and hopefully, our increased presence on the roadways will encourage drivers to be responsible, and of course, sober."

During the summer months, more residents take to the roadways for weekend trips and festivities where alcohol is often involved, and Labor Day is no exception.

"Keeping our roads safe is a top priority for us," said Sheila Burgess, director of the Highway Safety Division for EOPSS."We’d like to thank the state and local police for their tireless efforts to make sure safe and sober driving is on the forefront of everyone’s mind this Labor Day weekend and beyond."

In 2008, NHTSA reported that there were more than 124 alcohol-involved fatalities across the state, where a driver involved had a blood alcohol content of at least 0.08%. Traffic enforcement and public education efforts continue to reduce that number and, on average, 350 people are arrested for drunk driving in Massachusetts every week.