The Duncan Banner

Local News

September 2, 2010

Law enforcement upping patrol for Labor Day

The Banner Staff The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Law enforcement officers plan to patrol heavily during this three-day weekend holiday and increased traffic is expected because of the weather and fuel prices.

Oklahoma’s Department of Public Safety Captain Chris West said this year’s national safety campaign is “Drunk Driving: Over the Limit, Under Arrest” and Oklahoma Highway Patrol is participating in it, since it began Aug. 20. It continues through Monday.

“This year, we are asking the public to join us in our efforts to rid our roadways of drunk drivers,” West said.

During the Labor Day holiday weekend in 2009, nine people were killed and another 301 were injured as a result of road accidents.

West provided alarming statistics, noting that five of the fatality victims were not wearing safety belts and four of the seven fatality accidents involved alcohol.

“We always stress the importance of seatbelts and not drinking and driving, but people still fail to listen.” The safety belt portion of the holiday weekend target is labeled Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort). It starts at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at midnight Monday.

Motorists can report erratic driving by calling *55 on their cell phone. When they call they need to provide a description of the vehicle, its location and direction of travel.

Even though people are heading home late Monday from their holiday mini-vacation, they still need to be alert to the dangers of traveling.

“You still have to get home safely,” West said.

“Alcohol was a contributing factor in 13 percent of the 465 crashes during the 2009 Labor Day holiday,” he said.

It’s not only the roadway hazards that have OHP officers concerned. Captain Mike Mize, Troop Commander of the OHP Lake Patrol division, said thousands of Oklahomans spend their holiday on one of the many state lakes.

Boaters are required to have life jackets, personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers and navigation lights (for after sunset) for their passengers.

“Every child 12 or under is required to wear a life jacket,” Mize said. He noted that the majority of boating crashes are the result of inattention and alcohol consumption.

Increasing the stress factors of those two obvious issues are the glare of the sun on the water and the heat, which increases alcohol’s effects.

“It is just as dangerous to operate water craft while intoxicated as it is to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated,” he said. Penalties are the same, which include jail, loss of driving privileges, fines and court costs.

And he cautions, always be on the lookout for children, because they tend to be playing, especially near the shores or docks.

Also a report released by Tulsa District Corps of Engineers stated that 12 of the 14 people who have drowned while swimming at a Tulsa District lake this year were men. They issued a reminder that taking risks around water is not advised.

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