For the protection of our community, the Voorhees Township Police Department will be cracking down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs during our end of the year “Safe Driving Campaign.” This increased presence will continue through January 1, 2020 and will include saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints focusing on motorists who may be intoxicated while driving.
Across the state, NJ police are on high alert for drunk drivers. The Star-Ledgerreports that 133 police departments are sharing a $600,000 federal grant for extra holiday patrols and checkpoints. During the 2018 holiday season the state reported arrests of 1,270 impaired drivers plus 5,700 tickets for speeding, 3,125 motorists with no seatbelts and 2,000 distracted drivers.
Every holiday season, hundreds of lives are lost due to drunk drivers. Nationally, over the past five years, an average of 300 people died in drunk driving crashes the week between Christmas and New Year. Alcohol-impaired fatalities make up more than a quarter of all crash fatalities.
Our police offer the following advice for the holiday season:
- Take mass transit, a taxi, Uber or similar service or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your action may save someone’s life and failure to act could cost a life.
- Spend the night where the activity or party is held.
- Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
Voorhees Township has continued the “Voorhees Saves Lives Program” to help our residents get home safely from local bars and restaurants. The program provides free rides home to Voorhees residents from any restaurant or bar in Voorhees and the ChopHouse in Gibbsboro.
Residents simply open the Uber app at one of the participating restaurants/bars and will see a “safe ride” option at the bottom of the screen. The free service will not be provided from one establishment to another but only from the establishment to home. The program is available every day from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
No tax dollars are used for this program. It is fully funded through contributions from local foundations, donors and businesses.
Enjoy the holidays and please be safe!
** Santa Claus has arrived at the Voorhees Town Center! He will be available for photographs Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pet photos with Santa are available from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays. For more information about holiday events, visit www.voorheestowncenter.com.
