Troopers cruising for drunk drivers

December 30, 2008

Patti Dozier The Times Enterprise Tue Dec 30, 2008, 09:21 PM EST

THOMASVILLE — Anyone planning on drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve might want to rethink their plans.

Chances are drunk drivers will be detected by Thomasville Post 12 Georgia State Patrol troopers in the post’s coverage area of Thomas, Grady, Colquitt and Mitchell counties.

“At New Year’s, emphasis is placed on drunk drivers and getting drunk drivers off the road,” Sgt. Ron Warren, Post 12 commander, said. “Our focus is to get them off the road before they ruin someone’s holiday.”

Troopers will set up sobriety checks during the 102-hour holiday travel period, which begins at 6 p.m. today and ends at midnight Sunday.

If a trooper suspects a driver is impaired at a sobriety check, the driver will undergo a field sobriety test.

Also, motorists who are speeding or weaving on the road will cause troopers’ personal radar to kick in.

This New Year’s, not unlike the 2008 holiday, is long at 102 hours, the post commander pointed out.

Speed, a lack of seat belt use and driving while impaired continue to be the primary contributing factors in fatal holiday period wrecks.

“The majority of fatal crashes occur on secondary roads,” Warren said. “Last year, 12 of the 22 traffic deaths occurred on county roads. Only two were on interstate highways in Georgia.”

Warren’s holiday advice is to plan ahead for holiday parties and provide non-alcoholic beverages for designated drivers.

Party hosts should arrange transportation for impaired guests by calling a taxi, friend or family member to get the individual home safely, the commander said.

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