The holiday weekend has doubled the number of local DUI arrests
during the annual Avoid the 13 campaign.
The holiday weekend has doubled the number of local DUI arrests during the annual Avoid the 13 campaign.
Since Wednesday, Lt. Joe Sampson said Monday, MHPD officers made seven more DUI arrests, bringing the total for Morgan Hill to 14 since the campaign kicked off Dec. 17.
“Some people obviously didn’t get the message not to drink and drive,” he said. “But we have been somewhat fortunate in that we’ve had no major injuries and no fatalities. We’ve had some fender benders, but that we can handle.”
One of the arrests came Sunday evening after a collision sent one person to the hospital and closed down a portion of Monterey Road northbound for a short time.
Don Olson, 49, of Gilroy, was taken to county jail on suspicion of driving under the influence after a two-vehicle accident at San Pedro Avenue and Monterey Road Sunday evening at approximately 6:30pm. Sampson said one victim was briefly trapped in a vehicle after the collision.
Other details about the accident were unavailable by presstime.
Avoid the 13 is named for the original 13 agencies participating in the campaign to make area roads safer during the holiday season when many people are out celebrating. Local agencies participating this year include MHPD, Gilroy Police, CHP, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and San Jose Police. Agencies schedule extra officers on patrol who look for unsafe drivers.
The campaign will continue until Jan. 2.
Last year, MHPD officers made 36 DUI arrests during Avoid the 13.
One way to reduce fatal car accidents is to not let common myths about drunk driving convince anyone to get behind the wheel of a car after a holiday party that includes alcohol consumption.
Common misconceptions about drinking and driving include:
Myth: As long as party-goers stick to beer and wine, instead of hard liquor, the intoxicating effects are minimized.
Fact: One 12 oz. can of beer, 5 oz. glass of wine or 12 oz. wine cooler contain the same amount of alcohol as 1.5 oz. of hard liquor.
Myth: Someone who has had too much to drink will show visible signs of intoxication.
Fact: Physical appearance can be misleading. Just one drink can impair one’s ability to drive safely, because judgment and motor skills are the first things affected by alcohol consumption.
Myth: Drinking coffee sobers up someone who has had too much to drink.
Fact: Time is the only solution to intoxication. It takes approximately one hour to oxidize each drink consumed
In addition to knowing the facts about drunk driving, all party hosts have a responsibility to prevent friends and loved ones from becoming the next alcohol-related traffic-accident statistic. Before the get-together, designate a driver or plan to use public transportation, and never allow a guest to leave your party in the driver’s seat if he or she has been drinking.
Motorists should also watch out for drunk drivers on the roads this holiday season. To spot a drunk driver, look for these warning signs: Driving well below the speed limit; driving outside marked lanes, weaving and zigzagging across the roadway; driving with headlights off at night; and/or tailgating and erratic braking.
