Raleigh police to watch for DWIs on Independence Day
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- New figures from the Raleigh Police Department show a huge spike in the number of people arrested for DWI.
Twice as many people have been charged with driving while impaired in the first half of this year, than last year.
By the numbers, there's a much higher chance of getting into an accident caused by a drunken driver on the Fourth of July than almost any other day of the year -- six times higher.
In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 40 percent of the wrecks on Independence Day are because someone chose to drive drunk.
"You shouldn't drink and drive," said Andrew Reed. "So, whatever Raleigh P.D. can do to stop that is a good thing, of course."
Between a new enforcement division and a concerted effort by the rank and file, Raleigh police have nearly doubled DWI arrests over the past year.
In first six months of 2013, nearly 800 people were charged. In first half of this year, that number jumped to nearly 1,500.
Where arrests were up, DWI deaths were down from 12 to just two.
"I think they're doing a good job," said Mable Haywood. "They're doing what they can do with what they have. So, I think they do a really good job of responding to it."
Raleigh's DWI squad will be out in full force, and if the stats play out like they usually do, they will have their hands full. By one estimate, drivers are two-and-a-half times more likely to be drunk at night on July 4 than during the day.
Walker and bikers should be careful as well. On the July 4, 2012, pedestrian fatalities were up more than 6 percent, and biker fatalities were also up.
