 "Photo: Photo Illustration by Matt Binter")
Crashes, injuries, deaths — these can all result from alcohol-impaired driving.
In response to this issue, the Kansas Highway Patrol is participating in the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Special Traffic Enforcement Program to enforce Kansas’ traffic laws concerning impaired driving.
“We want to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes through this enforcement by reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road,” said Edna Buttler, technical trooper. “We want to promote the use of safety belts and discourage driving impaired. There’s a number of reasons why we do this, but they all come down to keeping people safe.”
About the program
As reflected by the program’s slogan — “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” — troopers across the state will participate in saturation patrols and check lanes, with the assistance of the Patrol’s Breath Alcohol Unit.
“It’s a statewide campaign, and there will be several checkpoints and other selective things going on around the state,” said Lt. Bob Baker. “We have more officers working overtime on this program, so drivers are going to see more things. They will see a few more check-lanes, more selective enforcements and more of an emphasis on DUIs and speeding.”
Drivers are considered to be “under the influence” if they are driving or attempting to operate a motor vehicle with a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Penalties for impaired driving include loss of driving privileges, fines, court costs and possible jail time.
Advice for students
“This is a very precious time in their lives where some people will be out celebrating, especially on the Labor Day holiday,” Buttler said. “We don’t want to stop that — we want people to go home to their families and enjoy their friends.
“We just want people to make sure that if they’re going to drink that they arrange for a ride or use the SafeRide services,” Buttler said. “We don’t want to stop people from enjoying life, but drinking and driving is no way to end the festivities.”
More than 100 law enforcement agencies across the state will participate. The program started Aug. 20 and will continue through Labor Day, Sept. 7.
Defining the issue
In 2008, Kansans suffered 3,366 alcohol-related crashes, which resulted in 1,999 injuries and 131 deaths. Furthermore, these preventable crashes cost $628 million in medical charges, property damage and other costs.
“I think of drunk driving as being intoxicated and just not really knowing what’s going on while you’re on the road,” said Jamie Weiser, sophomore in life sciences. “It tends to involve causing a lot of accidents and deaths — hitting pedestrians and that sort of thing — just really bad situations.
“Even if you don’t cause an accident, you’re putting yourself out there at a higher risk to cause an accident, so that’s a basic issue of being irresponsible,” Weiser said.
Advice from Kansas Highway Patrol
If you plan to drive, do not drink.
If you plan to drink, designate a non-drinking driver and give that person your keys.
Never ride with a driver who has been drinking.
Take a list of phone numbers with you for cabs or friends to call for a sober ride home.
If possible, plan to spend the night at the event.
If you are throwing a party, provide nonalcoholic alternatives, and never let guests drive drunk.
Report impaired drivers to your local law enforcement agency.
Always buckle up and properly secure children in their safety seats.
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