Poughkeepsie … Law enforcement agencies throughout Dutchess County will participate in a special enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving to coincide with the national Thanksgiving holiday. The statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Enforcement Campaign effort starts on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and will end on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Various law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths during this period.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more impaired driving crashes occur on Thanksgiving day than the day before or after the holiday. Of all driving collisions on Thanksgiving day, 31 percent are related to impaired driving. The NHTSA reported Thanksgiving car crash fatalities rose by 23 percent from 2019 to 2020, based on the most recent data available.
The STOP-DWI Thanksgiving High Visibility Engagement Campaign is one of many statewide initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The Statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign also targets Super Bowl weekend, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, the 100 Days of Summer campaign in June through August, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween and the winter holiday season. STOP-DWI New York urges residents to download its mobile app, “Have a Plan.”