The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department will be out in full force to crack down on impaired drivers this weekend.

Authorities are prepared to stop and arrest any impaired drivers they see to keep Stanislaus County roads safe. Deputies have received specialized training training that helps them identify and remove those driving under the influence from roadways.

While important, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department says having a sober driving is only the first step in keeping the night safe. They also encourage everyone continue using their seat belts, putting away their cell phones, following the rules of the road, and keeping an eye out for dangerous drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2012, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes nationwide. That accounts for one every 51 minutes. Over 800 of those died on California roadways.

In 2011, 32,367 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes across the nation, with 31 percent — or 9,878 — of those fatalities occurring in drunk driving-related collisions. Californians witnessed at total of 2,835 deaths that year with 774 killed in DUI crashes on their streets and highways.

Drunk drivers often face jail time, the loss of their driver licenses, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towed, and collision repair, and lost wages due to time off from work.

Even worse, a drunk driver can cause a traffic crash that claims someone’s life or their own.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department recommends the following tips for safe driving:

• Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk or worse, the risk of having a crash while driving.
• If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before the party begins.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life and inaction could cost a life.

Remember, it is never safe to drink and drive: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Funding for this checkpoint provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that reminds everyone to report drunk drivers and call 911.