Don't Drink or Text and Drive in Phoenix
There are only two ways to get to Phoenix, fly or drive. Once you have arrived, virtually everyone drives everywhere, because the light rail system is still under construction and there really is no core area where people can walk around. This dependence on driving means keeping people safe on the roads is a priority for Phoenix and Arizona.
Two new laws were recently enacted that impact driving in the Valley. The first is a local ban of texting while driving in Phoenix. The second is a new DUI law requiring first-time DUI offenders throughout Arizona to install ignition-interlocks on their vehicles for 45 days and creating a "super extreme" DUI category under which drivers whose blood alcohol level is 0.20 or higher (more than double the legal limit) are sentenced to 45 days in jail. Both are currently in effect.
More than 30,000 collisions occur in Phoenix every year, according to the Phoenix Police Department, In 2006, 232,774 traffic citations were written, setting a record for the fewest citations issued since 1995. The decline in the number of citations issued appears to be continuing in 2007 with only 55,825 citations issued during the first quarter. That is 5,041 fewer citations than were issued during the same period in 2006. It is unknown how many of these collisions and citations were related to texting while driving, however 7,581 arrests were made for driving under the influence (DUI) in 2006, the lowest number of arrests since 6,960 arrests were made in 1995. The first three months of 2007 saw 1,590 DUI arrests.
Neither the new laws nor the statistics should discourage people from driving in Phoenix if they need to. The new laws are intended to make Valley and Arizona roads safer by encouraging drivers to focus on their driving and only get behind the wheel when they are capable of doing so.
Other non-legislative efforts are also underway to improve the safety of Arizona's highways and by ways. During the holiday season, several organizations sponsor free or low cost rides home for those whose celebrations include alcohol. Unfortunately, not all of these programs are available all year.
Hoping to make safe driving a lifelong habit, Toyota is launching its Fall 2007 program promoting safe driving among teens, Toyota Driving Expectations, at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale. Multiple sessions of this unique program which teaches defensive driving techniques to teens and the parent or guardian, who must accompany them, will be offered over two consecutive weekends, October 5-7 and 12-14. Online registration for the program began September 14. The program, which is free, goes beyond traditional driver education courses and helps participants understand the critical relationship between distractions and reaction time.
Driving is part of the Phoenix experience. Hopefully, efforts such as these will make it a safer, more positive experience for everyone.
