No Excuse to Drink & Drive this New Year's Eve
Denver, CO (December 27, 2011) - At least 1,310 drivers in Colorado will be starting off the New Year facing the consequences and expense of a DUI arrest that occurred since a holiday season DUI crackdown began Thanksgiving week. Unfortunately, more arrests are expected as the Heat Is On crackdown intensifies again over New Year’s weekend, with more than 90 law enforcement agencies across the state planning increased patrols and saturation patrols beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 through 3 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 2nd.
All too often, holiday festivities take a deadly turn when person chooses to drink alcohol and then get behind the wheel. In the last two weeks of December 2010, 415 people were killed in traffic crashes involving alcohol in the U.S., and 6 of those deaths were in Colorado.
This year from Nov. 22 through Dec. 26, preliminary reports show there have been 35 traffic fatalities in Colorado, 14 were alcohol-related.
“Start the New Year off with a clean slate. Make a plan before you head out this New Year’s Eve,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “We’ve taken hundreds of people off the road already this holiday season for driving under the influence. Don’t put yourself and others lives at risk. Call a cab, take public transportation or serve as the sober designated driver for your group. And whether you’re the designated driver or just a passenger, please don’t forget to buckle your seatbelt.”
This New Year’s Eve, CDOT is once again partnering with MillerCoors and RTD which are offering alternative transportation options to Colorado drivers along the Front Range. MillerCoors is offering $10 cab vouchers at select bars and restaurants in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland. In the Denver area, MillerCoors is encouraging people to call 1-800-TAXICAB, a national taxi dispatch service which helps locate the nearest cab company to you.
“The holidays are a time to celebrate, and we hope consumers who choose to enjoy our great beers will also plan ahead and make the responsible choice to get home safely,” said Kim Marotta, director of corporate social responsibility for MillerCoors. “Whether they choose alternative transportation, designate a driver or stay overnight at a hotel or a friend’s home, there is always a better option than driving drunk.”
In addition to cab vouchers, MillerCoors and RTD are providing free transit rides on New Year’s Eve in the Denver metro area. The free rides start at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and run through 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Although the rides will be free, scheduled service hours are not extended.
“We hope people will take advantage of our free rides. This is something we’ve done for the past twenty-one years and we’ve seen a great response,” said Lee Kemp, RTD Chairman of the Board. “Make a plan before you head out this New Year’s Eve and hop on the light rail or get on the bus for a safe and sober ride home.”
CDOT’s Plan Ahead campaign has reached thousands of people this year through advertising on billboards and websites, in addition to public service announcements on radio and television. CDOT had also created a special website, www.PlanAheadColorado.com, where people can find more information about public transportation options, safe party tips, overnight parking options and more. Information is also available can also visit CDOT’s new Facebook page, www.facebook.com/coloradoDOT.
