TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - State troopers will be out in extra numbers over the next two weeks, concentrating their enforcement efforts on impaired drivers through Labor Day weekend.
As part of a national ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign, law enforcement from the Florida Highway Patrol will be looking for signs of drunk or drugged drivers across the state.
Last year, there were nearly 2,900 fatal accidents in Florida, including many caused by impaired drivers.
FHP Lieutenant Greg Bueno says people need to make plans for getting home before they have their first drink of the evening.
“All of our families are on the roads. It is imperative for us, the drivers, to be responsible," said Bueno. "That responsibility is being 100 percent sober and 100 percent focused any time that you are behind the wheel.”
The overall number of car accidents in Florida has gone up steadily over the past five years.
FHP attributes the increase to impaired and distracted drivers as well as an increased number of cars on Florida roads.
There are now more than 18 million registered vehicles in the state, an increase of nearly 15 percent from 2012.
