Officials with the Jasper Police Department say over a 24 day period in which the department participated in an Impaired and Aggressive Driving Enforcement, officers worked 52 hours of overtime and during that period, made 136 traffic stops, issued 157 written warnings, issued 18 traffic citations and made 1 warrant arrest during the traffic-enforcement mobilization.
The Jasper Police Department, as well as the Dubois County Sheriff’s Office, was among roughly 230 police agencies who increased patrols across Indiana for aggressive and impaired driving.
The overtime traffic enforcement is funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
Jasper Assistant Chief of Police Aaron Persohn says as temperatures rise, so do crashes involving impaired and aggressive driving
He adds that if you venture out watch for bikes and pedestrians and make sure your plans include a sober, defensive driver.”
In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. Motorcycles are about 3 percent of registered vehicles but are dramatically overrepresented in fatal crashes involving alcohol.
Impaired driving also includes prescription and illegal drugs. Over-the-counter medication can cause impairment, especially when combined with alcohol or a second drug.
Anyone taking a new or higher dose of a drug should speak with their doctor or avoid driving until they know what kind of effect the medication has.
Failing to yield the right of way is one of the top causes of crashes that lead to injuries and deaths.
Following too closely and unsafe lane movement violations are also among the top causes of crashes.
Other aggressive driving violations include unsafe speed; speed too fast for weather conditions;
disregarding a traffic signal or sign; and improper passing, turning, or lane usage.
Young male drivers aged 16-34 are more likely to be in a crash involving alcohol or unsafe driving
behaviors.
Statistics and more information are in the most recent Crash Facts that the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute publishes with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute at trafficsafety.iupui.edu.
