Massachusetts State Police Unveil New B.A.T. Mobile

Event at Revere Beach Highlights Latest Tool to Combat Drunk Driving

As part of their continued effort to keep Massachusetts roadways safer, the Massachusetts State Police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security joined together today at Revere Beach to unveil the Massachusetts State Police new Breath Alcohol Testing (B.A.T.) Mobile, B.A.T. II, and to raise awareness about the dangers of operating under the influence.

"The B.A.T. II is a welcome addition to the force and is especially timely right before the July 4th holiday," said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Mark F. Delaney. "We want people to have fun, but be smart and be safe. The long-term goal of our traffic safety efforts is to get all Massachusetts drivers to think about the decisions they make before they get behind the wheel. This means they will always be driving safely, and most importantly, driving sober."

The first B.A.T mobile was unveiled on Memorial Day weekend in 2006. Due to the success of the original B.A.T. mobile at combating impaired driving, this is the second to be added to the State Police force. Functioning like a mobile police barracks, the B.A.T. mobile provides a place to rapidly process impaired drivers at the scene, allowing officers to resume patrol in one-third of the time a traditional drunk driving arrest would take.
Family and friends involved with MADD were also on hand at the event to share their stories of the serious consequences and impact drunk driving can have. "The most recent statistics show that one out of every three people knows someone that has been killed or injured by a drunk driver," said Barbara Harrington, State Executive Director of MADD Massachusetts. "We and the police share a common goal of eliminating drunk driving and we look forward to how the B.A.T. mobile will help in that fight."
During the summer months, more residents take to the roadways for weekend trips and festivities where alcohol is often involved. On average, 200 people are arrested for drunk driving in Massachusetts every week. In 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that there were 174 alcohol-related fatalities across the state.

The B.A.T. mobile was made possible with funding provided by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Highway Safety Division and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information, go to www.mass.gov/highwaysafety