College students pose a special threat,

drinking traditions do not mix with statewide enforcement

Nearly 100 Michigan law enforcement agencies will take part in a crackdown enforcing the new .08 BAC drunk driving offense this St. Patrick’s Day. It's the first time that the traditional drinking holiday will be celebrated under these lower limits and tougher penalties. St. Patrick's Day poses a special threat, as its "celebration drinking" results in one of the most dangerous driving days of the year.

College students are of special concern to law enforcement officers, considering the popular St. Patrick’s Day customs of binge drinking, having green beer for breakfast and daylong celebrations. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), individuals between 21-34 are most likely to drive under the influence of alcohol.

A five-year average of alcohol-related fatalities in Michigan shows a dramatic increase in the number of people killed in traffic crashes on St. Patrick’s Day. On a typical day, an average of 1.37 people die in alcoholrelated crashes in Michigan. On St. Patrick’s Day, the average surges to 2.36, an increase of more than 50 percent.

A Michigan State University study in 2002 found that its students were more likely to drink – and drink more – during certain occasions, including St. Patrick’s Day. These events make it more socially acceptable to binge drink, the study found, especially when peer pressure and "crowd dynamics" are present. Additionally, 28 percent said they drink out of a sense of obligation rather than a desire to drink or get drunk, and 30 percent feel uncomfortable if they’re not drinking and "everyone else" is. With St. Patrick’s Day approaching and party plans developing, students should celebrate safely, keeping in mind the new .08 law and the statewide special enforcement.

"Federal funds will be used to increase overtime patrols and police presence with one purpose – finding and arresting drunk drivers," said Michael L. Prince, Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) division director. "Special training and experience means there’s no ‘outsmarting’ an officer if a person is driving drunk."

Police officers all over the state will increase their presence on St. Patrick’s Day. Eleven counties are also receiving federal traffic safety funding for overtime patrols for the holiday period mobilization from March 12 through March 27, 2004, including: Bay, Ingham, Genesee, Jackson, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair and Wayne counties. For a complete listing of departments participating in the mobilization, visit OHSP’s website at www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

Studies show that motorists are more likely to drive sober when patrols are combined with highly visible public awareness efforts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). OHSP is coordinating the mobilization, providing federal traffic safety funds to boost patrols in selected areas to ensure widespread awareness of the program. In the current fiscal year, OHSP will provide nearly $2 million in federal money to law enforcement agencies for overtime patrols and another $1.5 million in paid advertising during mobilization periods.

Michigan was the 44th state to adopt a .08 blood alcohol content (BAC) standard for drunk driving offenses. Prior to the change in law, .08 BAC was considered impaired driving in Michigan, a lesser offense.

NHTSA estimates the country would save 400-600 lives each year if all states adopted .08 laws.

According to NHTSA, laboratory and on-road research shows that the vast majority of drivers are significantly impaired at .08 with regard to critical driving tasks such as braking, steering, lane changing, judgment and divided attention. Additionally, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, driving skills can be affected at BAC levels as low as .02 (www.niaaa.nih.gov). Alcohol also affects everyone differently (by age, gender, physical condition, amount of food consumed, etc.), different drinks may contain different amounts of alcohol, and impairment can actually begin with the first drink(www.health.org/nongovpubs).

With the new drunk driving law, those convicted for a first drunk driving offense now face:

• - Up to 93 days in jail
• - Up to a $500 fine
• - Up to 360 hours of community service
• - Up to 6 points on a driver’s license
• - Up to 180 days’ license suspension.

In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a new $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic oneyear driver’s license suspension.