GLOUCESTER TWP.
— Police here, in conjunction with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, will stage a DWI Sobriety Checkpoint overnight Thursday.
The checkpoint is part of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police St. Patrick’s Day 2011 Impaired Driving Prevention campaign.
The location of the driving while intoxicated checkpoint was not disclosed.
Statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that on St. Patrick’s Day 2009, 37 percent of the drivers and motorcyclist involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.
Additional NHTSA statistics show that in 2009, there were 103 crash fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day. Out of that number, 47 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher
Gloucester Township police recommend the following easy steps, for a safe St. Patrick’s Day:
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
• Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home;
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
• And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely