December is Maryland's Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
LA PLATA, Md. (Dec. 8, 2009)—Charles County Sheriff Rex W. Coffey said the Sheriff's Office is joining forces with the Maryland State Highway Administration's Highway Safety Office and local businesses to help promote an important message: Drunk and Drugged Driving will not be tolerated.
As part of an on-going effort aimed at promoting increased enforcement and consequences, the Sheriff's Office is asking business owners to help raise awareness and promote personal responsibility this holiday season by placing the following message on their marquee or in their storefronts: "Report Drunk Drivers - Call 911".
Over the next several days, officers assigned to the Agency's Traffic Operations Unit will be visiting businesses throughout the county encouraging them to display the promotional materials. The marquee and storefront program presents an enormous opportunity to reinforce the message that impaired driving is dangerous and must be reported immediately.
According to the Maryland State Highway Administration's Highway Safety Office, December consistently ranks as one of the deadliest months in Maryland for drunk-driving related fatalities. Last year, with the help of an aggressive awareness campaign, the state achieved a milestone in drunk-driving apprehensions and adjudication with over 24,000 arrests.
"Our officers are constantly on the lookout for impaired drivers, but we can't do it alone. We need citizens to call us when they see a vehicle being operated in a dangerous manner. Having these messages posted will simply remind people that everyone has to do their part in turning in drunk drivers," said Sheriff Coffey.
For more information about traffic safety and enforcement efforts, visit the Charles County Sheriff's Office Web site at http://www.ccso.us/ .
Source: Charles County Sheriff's Office