NEWS RELEASE



For further information please contact: Capt. Christian T. Ricks (573) 526-6115

Q12055

December 21, 2005

EMPHASIS: Patrol Stresses Safety During New Year’s Holiday





The New Year’s holiday is a time to celebrate 2005 and welcome 2006. The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages everyone to include safety in their holiday preparations. If your plans include alcohol, choose a designated driver. Getting arrested could be the least of your concerns. There are court costs, medical bills, or perhaps jail time. If you kill or injure someone, you’ll pay a price for the rest of your life. The highway is no place for a driver who has been drinking.



During the New Year’s traffic crash counting period from 6 p.m. Friday, December 30, 2005 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, January 2, 2006, all available officers will be on the roadways. Last year, 967 traffic crashes occurred in Missouri over the New Year’s holiday weekend. In those crashes 12 people were killed and 406 were injured. That is one person killed or injured every 7.8 minutes.



“Drunk drivers cause too many traffic crashes every year,” said Colonel Roger D. Stottlemyre. “The injuries and deaths that result from drunk driving can be prevented if people celebrate responsibly.”