Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, As the summer travel season wraps up in Wisconsin, the Spring Green, Plain and Arena police departments, along with law enforcement agencies across the state, are asking drivers to do their part in keeping the roads safe by eliminating impaired driving. Someone is killed or injured in an alcohol-related crash every three hours in Wisconsin. Last year, there were 6,050 alcohol-related crashes that resulted in 167 deaths – all of which could have been prevented if a drunk driver had found a safe ride home instead of getting behind the wheel. Alcohol was involved in more than one-quarter of all traffic fatalities (167 of 592).  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teenagers are more likely than anyone else to be killed in an alcohol-related crash. In Wisconsin, 563 drivers under 21 were suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol in 2020. That’s up from 318 drivers in 2019. While drunk driving remains a significant concern, Wisconsin and many other states are also seeing an increase in drugged drivers. A driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle is compromised by the use of illegal drugs and sometimes prescription or over-the-counter medications. Another 80 people in Wisconsin were killed in drug-related crashes in 2020.  Drivers impaired by alcohol or other drugs pose a danger to themselves, their passengers and everyone else on our roads. As part of our year-round public safety efforts, our local law enforcement agencies are joining the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs from August 18 through Labor Day (September 6).  To help identify impaired drivers on our roads, 5,752 law enforcement officers in Wisconsin are trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement. Wisconsin also has 347 highly trained Drug Recognition Experts - among the most in the nation.  Every person plays an important role in making our roads safer. Never allow someone to drive impaired. If you see a driver you suspect is under the influence, call 911 and provide as much detail as you can. If you plan to drink, identify a sober designated driver. If you’re feeling impaired, you likely are over the 0.08 BAC limit and should not drive. Protect yourself and your passengers by choosing a safe ride home instead of taking the risk of driving while impaired.  This is NOT just about stopping, citing, or arresting drivers. This is about saving lives and preventing tragedies. While the campaign is focused on the next few weeks leading up to the Labor Day holiday, it is our mission to stop impaired driving all year long and we will continue our efforts on the roads. And finally, because impaired driving is preventable, we are serious when we say, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” Thank you for your support throughout the year to help keep our streets and communities safe. Officer Alex Ziemke Spring Green Police Department