Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang pose for a photo with Department of Public Safety Commissioner Clement Bermudes, DPS traffic enforcers and other police officers after signing on Monday a proclamation designating December as CNMI Drunk, Drugged, Drowsy and Distracted Driving Prevention Month.
FROM January to November of this year, the CNMI recorded 1,075 crashes, 46 of which were alcohol-related, and one was fatal, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Over a five-year period between 2019 to 2023, the CNMI recorded 322 alcohol-related crashes, DPS added.
These pieces of information were provided as part of DPS’s Drunk, Drugged, Drowsy and Distracted Driving Prevention Campaign.
On Monday afternoon, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang signed a proclamation designating December as 4Ds Driving Prevention Month.
Palacios called upon the community “to promote safe driving practices such as designating a sober driver, preventing impaired family members and friends from getting behind the wheel, and reporting unsafe drivers.”
DPS Commissioner Clement Bermudes said, “We should recognize the factors that affect the safety of our roads. 4Ds might lead to fatalities if we are not careful…. Roadway safety is a main concern for the police…. We’re here to remind people of their individual responsibility and that is safety and to also recognize the importance for the community to practice safe driving during the holiday season.”
DPS has also begun its free SAFE Ride Program for the holidays. Call 670-783-RIDE (7433) between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Through the program, a caller may request assistance for an individual who is intoxicated and needs a ride home. An officer will meet this individual and the taxi service that will transport the passenger from the pick-up location to his or her residence.
Police Sgt. Adrian Mendiola said they have also scheduled checkpoints and presentations among other activities for 4Ds Driving Prevention Month.
“This is to inform and educate the public about 4Ds prevention,” he said. “We will continue to push hard to make sure we maintain a low number of fatalities. Our ultimate goal is to bring down fatalities …with good teamwork, good leadership, good support we can make that number low.”
“Recognizing that individual actions play a pivotal role in promoting road safety,” the proclamation stated, each person should reaffirm their personal responsibility to drive free of the influence of alcohol or drugs, and/or the distraction posed by electronics, and to strive to prevent others from driving under the influence.”
