Keeping Wyoming Highways Safe
National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month
December 29, 2004
Impaired driving is one of America's deadliest problems. Nationally, in 2003, more than 17,000 people died in alcohol-related highway crashes. Hundreds of thousands more were injured. Every 30 minutes, nearly 50 times a day, someone in America dies in an alcohol-related crash. This means you, your friends, your family are regularly at risk.
The month of December and the New Year's Eve holiday are often highlighted by significant increases in state and local law enforcement efforts to combat impaired driving. The Wyoming Highway Patrol is no exception.
Nationwide, December has been proclaimed National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. The Wyoming Highway Patrol has been participating in this campaign in the month of December. So far, Troopers have arrested over 60 impaired drivers on the state’s roadways during this campaign period. However, prevention and not arrest is the goal. The key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement.
Troopers will continue to work overtime during the remaining holiday period and the upcoming New Years holiday weekend to make the roadways safe. Statewide, Troopers will be working overtime either on their days off, prior to or after a regular shift. A 402 Highway Safety Grant obtained by the WYDOT Highway Safety Branch provides the overtime monies. The overtime hours worked will begin in the late evening hours and will continue into the early morning hours.
Currently, the Wyoming highway fatality count is 155 deaths compared to 163 fatalities as of December 28th one year ago. The last highway fatality in Sublette County occurred around 11 pm on Wednesday, December 22nd on US Hwy 189, 22 miles north of Big Piney. In that accident, 25-year old Nathan Miller of Whitehouse, Texas, was driving southbound when, for unknown reasons, his truck crossed the roadway and entered the left barrow ditch. His vehicle crossed over a hill causing it to go airborne approximately 60 feet. The vehicle continued through a ditch and a fence, coming to rest in the field on its wheels. Miller was alone in the vehicle. He was not wearing a seatbelt and the road was dry at the time of the crash.
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