Message From Virginia State Police For New Year's Eve Revelers

Don't drive drunk and have a designated driver.

Bob Grebe
Reporter
ROANOKE, Va.—

The Virginia State Police have a message for New Year's Eve revelers, don't drink and drive.

December is being recognized as 3-D Prevention Month.  That's the prevention of drunk and drugged driving.

Virginia State Police are participating in Checkpoint Strikeforce, checking driver sobriety.  Troopers will conduct roving enforcement patrols on designated roadways as well as sobriety checkpoints statewide.

State police are just one of several state and local law enforcement agencies participating in the annual campaign to raise public awareness throughout the region about the deadly dangers of drunk driving.

"Not only do we hold sobriety check points, but we have roving DUI patrols as well.  So that allows a trooper to patrol an area, not stationary," said Sgt. Bob Carpentieri, Virginia State Police.  "He'll be in his vehicle driving and patrolling around looking for drunk drivers as well."

As of December 16, Virginia has experienced a slight increase in traffic fatalities.  Preliminary reports from State Police indicate 716 individuals have already been killed in crashes statewide compared to 705 at this same time in 2010.

Last year in Virginia, six traffic fatalities occurred statewide during the four-day statistical counting period for the 2010-2011 New Year's holiday weekend.

State Police want to remind everyone to drive distraction free and make safety a priority.  Take the time to buckle your seat belt and put down the cell phone.  Also, be alert on the roadway and drive defensively.  

If you plan to drink Saturday night have a designated driver.    

The hope is everyone can have a safe and happy new year.

Source;  http://www.wtkr.com/news/wdbj7-virginia-state-police-has-a-message-for-new-years-eve-revelers-20111230,0,1359449.story