Conscientious drivers take safety precautions that include preventative driving, keeping vehicles roadworthy and designating drivers when they’ve been drinking. However, even the best and most careful drivers are unsafe when drunk drivers are on the roads.
Our police officers put a lot of effort into taking drunken drivers off the road during the holidays. Recently, over the Thanksgiving weekend, authorities set up sobriety checkpoints in various locations on Long Island. Members of the community like Dawn Nappi are also behind this effort, helping the police do sobriety checks and working on legislative measures to stop drunk driving. Seven years ago, Dawn’s 14 year-old daughter was killed in a traffic accident caused by an unlicensed driver on drugs. Dawn is a member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and sits on the legislative board.
The Long Island Press reported that Suffolk County authorities arrested 60 drivers, the highest number of DWI arrests on Long Island. Arrests were made between 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 8:00 a.m. on Monday. Nassau police made 57 DWI arrests between 7:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve and 7:00 a.m. on Monday. The New York State police reported three weekend DWI arrests, and of the arrests, a Glen Head woman allegedly drove while intoxicated with two children in her car.
No one should be the victim of a drunk driver. Through the efforts of police, members of the community and legislatures, drunk driving statistics have dropped considerably over the past few decades. Victims of drunk driving accidents have the right to pursue legal action if their injuries meet the serious injury threshold established by New York statutes.
Please drive safely during the holidays and have a happy season.