The Mount Laurel Police Department will be participating in the Over the Limit Under Arrest 2008 Statewide Crackdown.  Beginning August 15 and running through September 1, 2008, the department will be stepping up impaired driving enforcement, looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.

A concentrated national effort, the campaign helps to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement and public education tools, including posters, banners, and mobile video display signs.  Launched nationally in 1999, the program works to combat drunk driving during some of the busiest travel times of the year.

Impaired drivers kill nearly 18,000 people on our nation’s roads each year.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report that nearly 97 percent of Americans view drinking and driving by others as a threat to their families and themselves.  In New Jersey for 2007, 205 of the 724 motor vehicle fatalities, or 28% were alcohol-related.  In addition, 92 of those alcohol-related fatalities occurred during the summer travel season.

The Mount Laurel Police Department makes the following recommendations:

·        Be responsible and don’t risk drinking then driving… you will be caught.

·        If you plan to drink, choose a designated driver before going out.

·        Realize before going out that every drink you have makes it more difficult to know when you’ve had too much to drive.

·        Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

·        Spend the night where the activity is held.

·        Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.

Always buckle up – it’s your best defense against an impaired driver.