Traffic Safety Top Priority During 3D Month

SOUTH CHARLESTON – December has been designated as National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. Prevention Month has grown dramatically since 1982 when President Reagan designated December 9-15 as 3D Awareness Week. In 1991, the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month Coalition was formed. Since that time, the group has witnessed increased efforts among communities to expand existing programs and launch new initiatives. The coalition is made up of representatives from the federal government, highway safety organizations, public health organizations, law enforcement, private industry and the military.

“The West Virginia State Police is continuing its participation in the national Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention campaign,” said Colonel Howard E. Hill, Jr., Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police. With the holidays approaching, alcohol and drug usage tends to increase; therefore, the chances of someone being injured or killed in a drunk or drugged driving related crash are very high. I have directed Troopers around the state to strictly enforce the drunk driving laws along with underage drinking laws this holiday season.”

Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) will play an important role in traffic safety this month. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has designated December 19 - 22 as National Life Savers Weekend. This effort is designed to focus on the most frequent causes of traffic fatalities during the holiday season; driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, excessive speed and failure to use proper occupant restraint devices.

Last year, throughout the state, there were 31 fatal crashes resulting in the deaths of 31 people. Of those 31 fatal crashes, 12 were alcohol related.

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