AAA Michigan Supports Federal Crackdown on Impaired Drivers

Michigan’s AAA issued a statement supporting tough new measures against drunk driving contained in the current “You Drink and Drive. You Lose” campaign described at a press conference held in Washington DC.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), joined by AAA, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Office of National Drug Control Policy and representatives of state and local law enforcement agencies, all gave a stern warning to motorists who drive impaired by alcohol or drugs during this holiday season.

Richard Miller, manager of Community Safety Services for AAA Michigan, stated that, “Law enforcement agencies in Michigan are solidly behind this national campaign. They will place heavy emphasis this holiday season on detecting and apprehending motorists who are driving impaired. That means anyone with a blood alcohol level (BAL) of .10 percent or greater better not get behind the wheel. If they do, they will probably find themselves arrested, forced to put up a cash bond to get out of jail and possibly see their vehicle impounded.”

In Washington, NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., noted that “Impaired drivers represent one of our nation’s greatest threats. There are nearly one billion drinking-and-driving trips annually, which kill more than 40 people every day.”

Miller indicated that there were 518 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Michigan in 2001. “That is a reduction of 10 percent from the total in 1997, but it is still 518 too many. Our goal should be to completely eliminate alcohol-related facilities, and we must work constantly toward that goal by not driving when our faculties are impaired, and by not letting anyone we are with drive impaired.”