POUGHKEEPSIE – Law enforcement agencies throughout Dutchess County are gearing up for a special enforcement initiative aimed at curbing impaired driving during the Labor Day weekend. This effort will run through the end of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1. Police departments across the state will join forces in this coordinated effort to decrease the number of alcohol-related injuries and fatalities during this period.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “As we enjoy unofficial end of summer, let’s keep our roads safe. If you plan to drink this Labor Day weekend, please make sure you have a safe way to get home. A single mistake can have lasting consequences.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that during the 2023 Labor Day holiday, there were 511 traffic fatalities, of which 36 percent involved a drunk driver, and 62 percent of those impaired crashes involved drivers with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) nearly twice the legal limit.
The Labor Day Weekend Engagement Campaign is one of several statewide enforcement initiatives supported by the New York State STOP-DWI Association, with additional funding from the STOP-DWI Foundation through a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Other statewide STOP-DWI campaigns target events such as Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, July 4th weekend, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the December holiday season.
Despite significant reductions in alcohol- and drug-related fatalities due to STOP-DWI efforts across New York, too many lives are still lost to crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible and well publicized initiatives, like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Community Engagement Campaign, aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.
Drivers can contribute to these efforts by planning ahead for a sober ride. Motorists can download the "Have a Plan" mobile app to find a safe ride home. For more information, visit stopdwi.org/mobileapp.
