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The Deal and Ocean Township Police Departments have announced a Holiday Traffic Safety Enforcement Initiative that translates into an increase of patrols in order to crackdown on traffic law violators and drunk drivers.

Starting Friday and running through January 1, the initiative will target unsafe vehicle operations and include saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints, according to a news release from Chief Steven R. Peters.

“During the holiday season we see an increase in traffic volume and vehicle crashes,” Peters [at right] said in the written statement. “Many of the crashes can be attributed to unsafe vehicle operations caused by distracted and aggressive driving.”

The crackdown is running in conjunction with the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety 2016 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over awareness campaign on the dangers of drinking and driving via high-visibility enforcement and public education tools.

“This is a critical law enforcement program that can save lives during a time of the year when impaired driving traditionally increases by nearly 10 percent,” Peters said. “This initiative brings attention to the serious consequences of drunk driving and the grave danger those who choose to drink and drive pose to all who share the road with them.”

According to Deal Police Department, 29% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related last year. Nationally, more than 10,000 people die each year in drunk driving crashes, with an associated $37 billion annual cost.

“During the last five years New Jersey has experienced approximately 41,000 alcohol involved crashes resulting in more than 800 fatalities,” Deal Patrolman Nick Vaccaro said. “This is a critical law enforcement program that can save lives during a time of the year when impaired driving traditionally increases by nearly 10 percent.”

The police departments recommend the following:

Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.

If you see or suspect that a vehicle is being operated by an impaired driver, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life and inaction could cost a life.

Always buckle-up, every ride. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

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