Nature of Incident: January Traffic Safety Awareness – Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Date & Time: Month of January 2022
Unit(s) Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department – Traffic Bureau
Narrative:
The Thousand Oaks Police Department strives to promote traffic safety within the community. In an effort to recognize certain hazards while driving, the Traffic Bureau is continuing a monthly traffic awareness reminder program, addressing a traffic topic each month. While we focus on a specific topic each month, it’s always imperative to constantly strive to follow all rules of the road. The month of January is dedicated to “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.”
California law states it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level equal to or greater than .08%. In addition, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of a drug or the combined influence of alcohol and drugs.
Here are some important facts you should know:
The Thousand Oaks Traffic Bureau urges citizens to drive responsibly. Designate a sober driver. Call a friend or family member for a ride or call a cab. Remember, the price of an Uber or Lyft ride is a lot lower than the fines associated with a DUI. Stay safe and keep those around you safe.
For more information on impaired driving please visit:
- Impairment is not reliant upon the type of alcohol consumed, rather the number of drinks over a certain period of time. Despite myths and misconceptions, coffee, a cold shower, or exercise will not make a person more sober; only time will.
- On average, a drunk driver will drive 80 times under the influence before their first arrest.
- Every 51 minutes in America, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash. That equates to 27 people every day. Offer to be a designated driver to ensure that everybody gets home safe.
- For drivers under 21, the U.S. has a No Tolerance policy that does not allow any alcohol to be in the blood system while behind the wheel. The consequences could include expensive fines, loss of license, or jail.
- One recent study found that drivers who were “minimally buzzed” or “buzzed” were often to blame for fatal accidents. The term “minimally buzzed” includes drivers who had a BAC of .01, which is well within the legal limit. Researchers examined more than 570,000 fatal accidents. The results: Drinking and driving with any alcohol in the body is dangerous and leads to more severe accidents.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/buzzed-driving
https://www.adcouncil.org/Our-Campaigns/Safety/Buzzed-Driving-Prevention
https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/drunk-driving/buzzed-driving-drunk-driving
Prepared by: Sgt. Dennis Sliva
News Release Date: January 3, 2022
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. Dennis Sliva Office (805) 494-8271 [email protected]
Approved by: Captain Dean Cook