East Brunswick Police Plan Crackdown On Drunk Drivers

East Brunswick police will be cracking down on drunk drivers through the statewide 2015 Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The campaign kicks off on Aug. 21 and runs through Sept. 7, according to a news release.

Local and state police plan to conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols, searching for intoxicated drivers.

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement and public education tools, including posters, banners and mobile video display signs,” according to news releases about the program. “Launched across the U.S. in 1999, the program works to combat drunk driving during the busy summer travel season, including the Labor Day holiday period.”

About one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers, police said. In 2013, more than 10,000 people were killed in these preventable crashes, police said.

Here’s advice from police:

• “If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out.
• “Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• “Spend the night where the activity is held.
• “Report impaired drivers to law enforcement. In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to report a drunk or aggressive driver.
• “Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
• “If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep.”