PREPARED BY: Lt. Mike Kearney
The Escondido Police Department reminds you to celebrate the holiday season responsibly
With the holiday season fast approaching, the Escondido Police Department wants to remind everyone to be responsible and not drive after drinking or take drugs that affect your ability to operate a vehicle.
To help keep our roadways safe, the Escondido Police Department will be conducting saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints beginning Nov. 23.
The enforcement efforts coincide with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign, which runs from Nov. 23 to Dec. 12.
During the 2017 Thanksgiving (Nov. 22-26) and Christmas (Dec. 22-25) holidays, 99 people were killed and nearly 4,500 people were injured on California roads. Of those deadly crashes, nearly 35 percent involved alcohol.
With holiday parties taking place, it’s important to plan ahead and make sure everyone has a sober ride home. Even if you’ve had only one drink, play it safe and designate a sober driver or use a ride-share service to get home. If you plan on drinking, don’t plan on driving.
The Escondido Police Department also supports efforts by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to inform drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.
Funding for holiday season enforcement operations are provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
