The Long Beach Police Department is beefing up patrols this St. Patrick's Day, on the hunt for impaired drivers as part of an effort to ensure public safety during the holiday festivities, with a stark reminder issued for party-goers to secure a sober driver before the celebrations kick off. Lieutenant Jose Flores implored residents, in a statement obtained by the department's press release, to play it smart saying, "Designating a sober driver before the festivities begin can save lives. It's a simple way to make sure everyone traveling on our roads gets home safely."
A stark statistic from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) underscores the urgency, revealing that more than 13,384 lives were cut short in 2021 due to drunk driving – amounting to 31% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States, with 47 of those fatalities linked to the St. Patrick's Day window, an increase compared to past years, and a number Long Beach police aim to drastically reduce. The NHTSA reports that periods like St. Patrick’s Day tend to see a surge in road tragedies.
Officers aren't just watching out for boozed-up drivers; the Long Beach PD warning extends to those under the influence of drugs, be they marijuana, prescription meds or even seemingly benign over-the-counter concoctions, all can cloud one's faculties and reaction times, creating risks equal to their fermented counterparts.
The clampdown, part of a larger initiative backed by California's Office of Traffic Safety and the federal NHTSA, stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired driving. The program's funding aims to help police departments like Long Beach ramp up enforcement during high-risk holiday periods and ensure safer streets for its citizens, stressing the importance of understanding how certain substances might impair driving abilities, the Long Beach Police advocate for research and caution among those who may be celebrating with more than shamrocks and green attire.
