Drive Sober Campaign Kicks Off in Mendham

The Mendham Township Police have been awarded a second Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over grant that will provide additional enforcement patrols from Dec. 7 through Jan. 2.

“There are two campaigns a year. One in the summer and then again around the holidays,” Mendham Township Police Lieutenant Vito Abrusci said. “Usually you get one or the other based off of productivity and availability. We applied for and received both.”

According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, summertime and the end-of-year holidays are statistically some of the most deadly times on American roads due to impaired driving. That's why during the summer and the end of the year, a nationwide campaign comprised of thousands of traffic safety partners, join together to protect citizens from this deadly crime.

According to Abrusci, Mendham Township has had 73 DWI arrests to date in 2012 and although they are aggressive about road safety, the goal is still prevention.

“We have seen at checkpoints an increase in taxi cabs and in designated drivers,” Abrusci said. “And applaud those who are being responsible.”

The Division of Highway Traffic Safety said the key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement. Prevention and not arrest is the goal of the campaign. Drivers must perceive that the risk of being caught is too high before their behavior will change.