Sand Mountain Reporter

MONTGOMERY — While state trooper-reported traffic deaths are down in 2009, DUIs have increased significantly.

So troopers will be working extra-duty patrols during the 102-hour Thanksgiving travel period from 6 p.m. Wednesday to midnight Sunday.

“Highly visible patrols promote compliance with traffic laws and support troopers’ efforts to prevent crashes, deaths and injuries,” said Col. J. Christopher Murphy, Alabama Department of Public Safety director.

Trooper-reported traffic deaths in Alabama are down by 90 – from 575 in 2008 to 485 this year.

Last year, 10 people died in vehicle crashes during the holiday travel period. Troopers said six of the victims killed were not wearing safety belts, and alcohol was a factor in at least three of the fatal crashes.

While fatalities are down in 2009, DUIs have increased 14.4 percent. From January through October, trooper arrests of impaired drivers jumped by more than 700 to 5,897, compared with 5,155 DUI arrests during the same period in 2008.

“Troopers will be especially vigilant for DUI offenders during the Thanksgiving holiday period,” Murphy said.

Murphy urged holiday travelers to buckle up on every trip, obey speed limits, drive defensively and courteously, and never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

“Use of safety restraints — seat belts and child restraints — is one of the simplest and most important actions drivers and passengers can take,” Murphy said, adding seat belt use increases one’s chances of surviving an injury-type crash by about eightfold. “The life-saving benefits of safety restraint use are indisputable; there’s no good excuse not to buckle up.”

Murphy also reminded motorists to be vigilant for troopers, wreckers and other emergency responders working roadside during the holiday period. He cited Alabama’s “move-over” law and its requirement to move over one lane, or to slow down when moving over isn’t possible or safe, when passing law enforcement vehicles or wreckers stopped roadside with emergency lights activated.

Albertville and Boaz police are not planning any extra patrols over the holiday weekend but will continue to monitor traffic closely.

“More people are traveling so there are a lot more wrecks due to the extra traffic,” Boaz police Chief Terry Davis said. “We’ll key on excessive speeding, traffic violations and DUI enforcement.”

Deaths and DUIs

Alabama Department of Public Safety statistics for 2008 and 2009:

• Trooper-reported traffic deaths in 2008: 575

• Trooper-reported traffic deaths in 2009 (through Nov. 20): 485

• DUIs from January through October 2008: 5,155

• DUIs from January through October 2009: 5,897

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

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