DPS reports zero fatalities during holiday season

The Department of Public Safety reported that during last year’s holiday season, zero fatalities were reported which is unheard of nationwide.

Last Wednesday, DPS Highway Patrol division held a press briefing to share its 4D’s (Drunk, Drugged, Distracted, and Drowsy) campaign after-action report.

According to the report, during the holiday season—the time of year when DPS carries out its 4D campaign—DPS received zero fatality reports.

“The best part is we had zero fatalities. Nationwide, during the holiday season, statistics are collected, and it shows that fatalities increase during the holidays. For the CNMI to zero that [stat] out, that is a major achievement,” said Highway Patrol division Sgt. Adrian Mendiola.

In addition, DPS Highway Patrol reported that only two Driving Under the Influence, or DUI, cases were reported during last holiday season.

“Two DUIs during the holiday season is amazing. It’s a very good number,” said Mendiola.

Meanwhile, DPS Highway Patrol said as part of its 4D campaign, 27 checkpoints were set up throughout the holiday season and only 202 citations were given out.

“There was a wide range of violations; 44 seatbelt violations, six car seat violations, those are the ones that stand out. The highest number of citations were given for seatbelt and car seat violations,” he said.

“It was a busy time out there during the holiday season and I commend the officers who were part of this operations. We sacrificed our holidays and worked long hours to keep the roads safe. However, we can’t take full credit for that, we thank the public as well,” Mendiola said.

Mendiola noted that the Highway Patrol division is expecting to carry out a similar plan for upcoming holidays like July 4.

The Highway Patrol division’s strategic plan, also known as its 4D campaign, for the year 2023 ultimately aimed to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries on the highway.

The Highway Patrol’s plan focused on three main components; public outreach, public education, and enforcement.

First, the division conducted public outreach through radio talk shows and media commercials.

“This approach created an interactive forum for the radio audience, allowing them to engage in discussions about highway safety. by raising awareness and providing information on safe driving practices, the division aimed to educate and inform the public about the importance of responsible driving and the dangers of driving impaired and distracted,” said Mendiola.

Additionally, the Highway Patrol division organized school presentations targeting various highschooler senior classes.

“The objective was to educate young drivers about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. By delivering informative presentations, the Division aimed to instill safe driving habits and encourage responsible behavior among young drivers,” said Mendiola.

Lastly, the division focused on enforcement by setting up a series of sobriety check points and speed enforcements at various locations.

“This approach aimed to deter and detect impaired driving, ensuring that the drivers were not under the influence of alcohol or drugs while on the roadway. through our statistic we found that the majority of the operators that were speeding over the posted speed limit were found to be under the influence of alcohol,” said Mendiola.

In addition, the Highway Patrol division kept up one of its yearly traditions to provide a free and safe ride home using the “SAFE RIDE” program.

“The program offers another option and source of transportation to the traveling public who plan to consume alcohol during the holiday season. this program has proven effective and the number of publics who avail to this program has been increasing. Through the implementation of these strategies, the Highway Patrol division achieved significant accomplishments in the mission to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the highway in 2023,” Mendiola said.