Sep 2, 2008

CHP: Labor Day traffic deaths down 50 percent

DUI arrrests up slightly

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

The California Highway Patrol is reporting a small increase in drunken driving arrests during the Labor Day weekend, coupled with an almost 50 percent drop in traffic deaths, according to a CHP statement.

As of midnight Sunday, CHP officers had arrested 1,416 drivers statewide for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, 10 more than the same three-day period last year. Statewide, 23 people were killed in traffic accidents, versus 42 in 2007. Nine of the victims this year were not wearing seat belts and three were killed riding motorcycles. CHP reported two fatal traffic accidents in the Bay Area over the weekend as of midnight Sunday.

The CHP maximum enforcement period started midnight Thursday and ended at the same time last night. Sgt. Trent Cross said he believes a combination of factors has lead to a less deadly Labor Day weekend for California drivers.

Higher gas prices, alternative forms of transportation and a more diligent public education campaign against drunken driving are a few, he said.

"Educating the public is one of the most proactive ways of preventing DUI crashes," Cross said.

Final numbers from the state agency were available this morning at 6 a.m., while some cities and jurisdictions plan to submit final statistics on Wednesday, according to the statement.

In Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, 147 people and 56 people, respectively, were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving between Friday and Sunday, according to the www.californiaavoid.org Web site.

Menlo Park and Palo Alto police each made two drunken driving arrests between Friday and Sunday, while Mountain View booked six people on suspicion of the crime, police from the three cities said. Palo Alto police Sgt. Gary Brooks said his officers made one of them after the driver ran into a traffic signal on the 700 block of Arastradero Road.



E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.