By By MELISSA GODSEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The trend for drinking and driving on New Year's Eve has gone down in the right direction according to Niles Police Department Captain James Merriman.
There has been a drop, not a big drop, but more people are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving and they know the patrols are out watching them, Capt. Merriman said.
"We are beefing up patrols … for New Year's Eve night, which includes keeping the afternoon shift over into the nighttime," he said.
If people do decide to drink, they should have a designated driver, he said. Driving buzzed is just as bad as being drunk. People should not take the chance, it can affect their life and the life of someone else's loved ones, Captain Merriman said.
Michigan state troopers reported that although people were out drinking last New Year's, they were using designated drivers, Mike Brown, Niles post commander for the state police said.
"Last year, the troopers worked overtime and stopped a lot of cars where people were drinking, but the drivers were sober," Brown said.
Brown recommends that those who choose to drink plan to have a designated driver, call a friend, spend the night or, in some areas, call a taxicab.
During the last several New Year's holidays, drinking and driving has slowed down compared to 10 to 15 years ago, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey said. Despite this, there will still be plenty of patrols out concentrating on people driving responsibly, he said.
In order to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities this New Year's Eve, more than 108 agencies in 30 counties are receiving federal funding to increase law enforcement, according to a press release from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
These federal traffic safety funds are being distributed by the OHSP.
During New Year's weekend 2005/2006, 33 percent of fatal car crashes involved alcohol, the press release said.
The release also said funding is given throughout the year to agencies in 55 counties – covering 94 percent of Michigan's population – for drunk driving and safety belt enforcement.