New campaign underway to discourage impaired driving

Local law enforcement agencies are participating in an enhanced impaired driving enforcement that began Thursday and runs through Sept. 7.

The Fort Scott Police Department, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office and the Bronson Police Department are among almost 150 other agencies across the state participating in a crackdown aimed at removing impaired drivers from roadways.

Local law enforcement officials said motorists can expect additional enforcement of Kansas drunk driving and other traffic laws, as well as an increased presence of patrolling officers watching for violations.

"We're focusing on primarily drinking and driving but also we will continue to look to make sure people are buckled up," FSPD Chief Travis Shelton said.

The enforcement campaign, called "You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.," is underwritten by a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

"The grant helps pay for overtime for officers on patrol looking for those types of violations over highly-traveled holiday weekends and times," Shelton said. "There will be an increased presence not only locally but all across the state with law enforcement agencies."

In a KDOT news release, Lt. Col. Randy Moon of the Kansas Highway Patrol spoke about Kansas' law enforcement goals during this special traffic enforcement period.

"As law enforcement we know as traffic increases, so does impaired driving, especially during major holidays," Moon said. "That's why we participate in programs like this, because of our commitment to help keep our roads the safest they can be."

Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King highlighted the Strategic Highway Safety Plan which includes goals to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by more than half by 2029.

"One of the key components of the plan is impaired driving awareness and education," King said in the release. "I hope you've heard the phrase, 'You drink. You drive. You lose.' Because it concisely describes the progression that happens way too often."

Shelton stressed the importance of the enforcement campaign and the need for drivers to make the right choice when it comes to seat belts and drinking and driving.

"We're out to ensure that traffic accidents are reduced and folks are buckled up," he said. "We're also out to prevent accidents and enforce impaired driving. We're proactively enforcing laws to prevent injury accidents and drunk driving offenses."

According to KDOT, Kansas averages four persons injured every day and one person killed every three days in alcohol-related crashes. Persons who are involved in such a crash -- in any capacity -- are two times more likely to be injured and nearly six times more likely to be seriously injured or killed than those who are involved in a crash in which alcohol is not determined to be a factor. The ration of death to injury in alcohol-related crashes is almost seven times higher than the death to injury ration for non-alcohol-related crashes.

A news release from the Bronson Police Department said the purpose of the enforcement campaign is to remind drivers of the following:

* People who drink while away from home should do it responsibly by planning ahead and lining someone up who is not going to be drinking to get them back.