Police agencies around the state will be out in force during this long holiday weekend in a concerted effort to crack down on drunk driving.
Sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols will be in place to deter drunk driving. Law enforcement agencies will also be cracking down on drivers who are impaired by drugs — both illegal and prescription.
According to Department of Motor Vehicle statistics, last year there were 8,633 alcohol-related crashes in New York state reported by police that resulted in 358 deaths and over 6,000 injured.
And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says alcohol-impaired driving fatalities increased nationwide by 4.6 percent in 2012. They accounted for almost one-third (31 percent) of overall fatalities.
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