Impaired drivers will be targeted
BY REBECCA MORTON
Staff Writer

MARLBORO - An increase in patrols will be present on Marlboro roads with the township's participation in the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety's (DHTS) "Over the Limit Under Arrest 2007 Impaired Driving Crack-down" program from Aug. 17 through Sept. 3.

"During this time frame an additional 25 roving patrols will be out," said Sgt. Joseph Lenge of the Marlboro Police Department's Traffic and Safety Unit.

At its Aug. 2 meeting, the Township Council approved a resolution which authorized the police department to take part in the DHTS program.

Statistics provided to the council indicated that impaired drivers kill someone every 30 minutes on the nation's roads and almost 18,000 people each year. The statistics indicated that 34 percent of motor vehicle fatalities are alcohol-related in New Jersey.

"The key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement," states the DHTS Internet Web site. Infor-mation posted on the site states that research has shown that highly visible enforcement deters individuals from attempting to drive while intoxicated.

Gary Poedubicky, deputy director of DHTS, said this campaign is a national event which was started in 1999. He said 200 municipalities in New Jersey will receive funding for awareness programs and the increase in enforcement.

The awareness programs can be anything from an informational pamphlet to a municipality hanging up a banner which announces that there will be an increase in enforcement present on local roads, according to Poedubicky.

The national initiative is generally held near the Labor Day holiday. During the winter holiday season a smaller campaign is usually enacted, Poedubicky said. The organizers' hope is that in addition to an increase in impaired driving enforcement there will also be an increase in the number of lives saved.

"We want to increase awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving," Poedubicky said.