So far, there have been 1,730 vehicular crashes in the CNMI this year and 62 of them were alcohol-related, resulting in one traffic fatality, according to the Department of Public Safety yesterday. <\/p>\n
In 2012, 32 out of 1,676 crashes in the Commonwealth were alcohol-related. Of those 32, there were three fatalities.<\/p>\n
Nationwide, in 2012 alone, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes\u2014one every 51 minutes, DPS said.<\/p>\n
DPS disclosed these numbers at yesterday\u2019s proclamation signing for December as CNMI Drunk, Drugged, Drowsy and Distracted Driving Prevention Month.<\/p>\n
Acting governor Victor Hocog signed the proclamation at the Governor\u2019s Office conference room.<\/p>\n
In the proclamation, Hocog said that DPS, along with other government agencies and the private sector, will be out in full force this holiday season to keep roads safe.<\/p>\n
Hocog said there will be zero tolerance for drunk driving, backstopped with a designated driver program.<\/p>\n
DPS will be joining the national campaign, \u201cDrive Sober or Get Pulled Over,\u201d \u201cBuzzed Driving is Drunk Driving,\u201d and \u201cFriends Don\u2019t Let Friends Drive Drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n
DPS Commissioner Robert A. Guerrero said it\u2019s the start of the holiday season so they want the people to be safe when they go home.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t drink and drive. You drink somewhere and if you\u2019ve had enough, call the designated drivers, call the department because we have designated drivers in the month of December to help [you] get home,\u201d Guerrero said.<\/p>\n
DPS Traffic Section commander Sgt. Anthony Macaranas said the police are trying to be creative in sending out the message about the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not attempt to drive home when you\u2019re impaired. Call a family member, call a cab or call somebody that you think will take you home safely,\u201d Macaranas said.<\/p>\n
Macaranas said people should not get behind the wheel when intoxicated because when they get into a crash, they hurt themselves and other people, and when they get caught they will be jailed and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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