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Local police department will step up patrols this Halloween weekend
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Caledonia police will go trick-or-treating for impaired drivers this Halloween weekend through increased DWI patrols. The holiday is a serious concern for officers as Halloween falls on a Saturday — which will likely cause in influx of revelers. The Caledonia Police Department is urging Halloween partiers to have a plan for a safe and sober ride to keep Caledonia roads safe.
Halloween has become one of the biggest party nights of the year. During Minnesota Halloween party weekends 2006–2008, seven of the 15 traffic deaths were alcohol-related. Another 40 people were seriously injured in crashes — 15 were alcohol-related. During this period, 1,487 motorists were arrested for DWI.
“Halloween has the potential to truly be a scary night as more people get behind the wheel after drinking,” says Officer Allan Johnson. “This presents a real ‘nightmare on Elm Street’ scenario that officers are going to try to combat with added DWI patrols.”
In Minnesota during 2006-2008, alcohol-related crashes resulted in 519 deaths and 1,159 serious injuries — and 116,515 motorists were arrested for DWI.
The local police department urges Caledonia residents to have a plan for a safe ride home before indulging: designate a sober driver, use alternative or public transportation, or stay the night at the location of the celebration.
Caledonia police also emphasizes the importance of pedestrian safety on Halloween.
Treat-seekers and parents should review basic pedestrian rules — cross at intersections or marked crosswalks, use flashlights and reflective wear, and never dart in front of traffic. Motorists should reduce speeds and remain alert at all times.
The enforcement effort is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) initiative. TZD is the state’s cornerstone traffic safety program that employs a multidisciplinary approach to address traffic safety issues through enhanced enforcement, education efforts, improved engineering and efficient emergency trauma response. The Caledonia Police Department will participate in additional enforcement and education campaigns during 2009–2010 to target seat belt use, speeding and impaired driving.
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