New Year's revelers, 'Don't Wreck the Holidays'
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The Blaine County DUI Task Force is tasked with “reducing the number of impaired drivers, crashes, injuries and deaths related to drug and alcohol use and motor vehicles.”
The Task Force was recently rejuvenated and new leaders and task force members are taking their charge to reduce traffic deaths seriously. They’re using two traffic safety programs on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day to reduce deaths on the highway from drunk and impaired drivers.
Some sobering numbers about the New Year’s holidays
Experts say, technically, New Year’s Eve is not the worst day of the year for alcohol related accidents. But after midnight, watch out! New Year’s Day, after midnight and when bars begin to close and party goers head home, has the highest percentage of deaths related to alcohol for any one day of the year.
Some law enforcement officers refer to New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day as “amateurs’ night.” The meaning is clear, people not used to over indulging in alcohol take to the highways and fatalities soar. What to do? The Blaine County DUI Task Force is taking a two pronged approach.
Rides for people
who are impaired
Task Force leaders Deputy Sheriff Chris Adair and Debbie Gomke, Administrative Support with the Sheriff’s Department, said there will be rides in two areas of the county for revelers who need a ride home on New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day. Rides will be available in both the Chinook and Fort Belknap/Harlem area.
At Fort Belknap the Tribal Council will make a bus, fuel and driver available to move party goers from the Agency to Harlem and back to the Agency. Riders can leave the Fort Belknap Casino at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. to ride into Harlem. The bus will leave from the VFW, in Harlem, at 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. and return to the casino. The bus service will be provided by the Fort Belknap Tribal Council and Fort Belknap Transportation. The Task Force will pay the driver’s wages.
In Chinook, rides will be available for revelers needing a ride home from a party or bar. The service will be available by calling county dispatch at 357-3260. Rides will be given within a five mile radius of town and are available from 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve until 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Blaine County is providing a vehicle and volunteers will do the driving.
Adair said he believes this is the first time a bus service has been offered for the Fort Belknap/Harlem route on a holiday.
“The Tribal Council,” he added, “stepped up when we approached them with the idea to provide a bus. County officials made a vehicle available for the Chinook service. It’s about keeping everyone safe over the holiday.”
Designated Drivers
supported by local taverns
Statistics show, for several years, the reduction of alcohol related highway deaths among groups that have a designated driver after a night out. Basically, a designated driver refrains from alcohol and drives a group of fellow partiers to their homes after the conclusion of a holiday event.
With financial support from six Blaine County establishments that serve alcohol, the Task Force will distribute “Designated Driver” travel cups to every bar/lounge in the county. When a person identifies themselves at a bar as the designated driver for a group they will receive a designated driver cup and enjoy free coffee and soft drinks until they take their group home.
Taverns that provided financial support for the cups include the Eagles’ Club and the Ramblin’ Rose Saloon in Chinook.
In Harlem support was given by EZ Mark Casino, Kennedy’s Bar and the Harlem VFW.
Kimber’s Border Bar and Grill in Turner also provided financial support for the Designated Driver program.
The cups are themed with “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” a safety slogan used nationwide through the support of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a reminder. Law enforcement agencies from state to city level have announced they will be out in increased numbers enforcing driving under the influence laws. Take advantage of these two programs to assure your safety and the safety of others.
One last thought. Statistically, the New Year’s holidays are also deadly for a less obvious group of revelers. Fatalities also spike for pedestrians during the two day holiday period. Alcohol impaired drivers and impaired pedestrians both contribute to these deaths. Pedestrians are encouraged to call for a ride in Chinook or take advantage of the bus service that will be available at Fort Belknap/Harlem.
“Don’t Wreck the Holiday”—your own or that of someone else. Be safe, use these two programs if you need some help assuring everyone gets home safely at the start of the new year. The Blaine County DUI Task Force thanks you and wish all a safe holiday season.
