Starting Dec. 16, officers of the Fairfax County Police Department will begin a countywide targeted DWI enforcement effort. Along with state and local partners, the goal is to crack down on drunk drivers and keep the roads safer this holiday season.
According to the National High Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DWI-related deaths have decreased by 25 percent from 2005 to 2014 and the number of people injured has decreased by 13 percent respectively.
In Fairfax County, alcohol-related crashes are down by approximately 12 percent from 2013, yet there were still 523 in 2014. Even with the decline in numbers, DWIs remain a threat to the community.
The NHTSA has developed an app to help people get a safe ride home. The app is available on available on the iTunes and Google Play stores.
The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is offering free rides this holiday with its SoberRide campaign. See http://www.wrap.org/soberride/index.htm.