The number of local alcohol-related injury accidents during the
first quarter of 2003 has decreased by nearly 40 percent compared
to the same time span a year ago.
The number of local alcohol-related injury accidents during the first quarter of 2003 has decreased by nearly 40 percent compared to the same time span a year ago.
Statistics from the California Highway Patrol cited three alcohol-related injury accidents in San Benito County between Jan. 1 and March 27, representing about a 40-percent decrease compared to the same period in 2002 in which there were five alcohol-related accidents.
CHP officers said they hope the decrease means motorists are finally following the not- drinking-and-driving message.
“We have seen a small increase in the number of arrests for driving under the influence,” CHP Officer Terry Mayes said.
Mayes said, however, some of the rise in local DUI arrests may have to do with the stepped up enforcement throughout the region.
Between continued concerns of terrorism and other current enforcement programs, CHP officers have been pulling 12-hour shifts and have been out in greater numbers.
There have been 54 DUI arrests this year compared to 53 for the same period last year, according to local statistics.
The CHP also said that the number of accidents in San Benito County are down by about 26 percent. There have been 60 accidents on local highways and rural roads patrolled by the CHP during the first three months of 2003 compared to 82 accidents during the same period of 2002.
The decrease came from a significant drop on the county’s most heavily traveled roadways, which include a portion of U.S. 101, highways 25, 156 and 129 and Fairview Road.
In 2002, there were 60 accidents on those roadways compared to just 38 accidents so far this year along the same stretches of roads.
Accidents along the county roads patrolled by the CHP remained the same, with 22 accidents in 2002 and 22 accidents so far this year, according to CHP statistics.
Some experts believe decreases may be linked to the continued increase in gasoline prices that has kept motorists off roadways unless they really need to go somewhere.
Also, the recent raising of the terrorism alert level to orange has put more police and CHP officers on the roadways.
