Programs

On Thursday, September 2, 2004, Governor Bob Wise kicked off the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. campaign and Checkpoint Strikeforce West Virginia during a press event at the West Virginia State Police Headquarters. Governor Wise expressed his support for reducing drunk driving in West Virginia and commented on the successful lowering of the BAC limit to .08 during the last Legislative session.
 
The West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program facilitated the inaugural meeting of law enforcement agencies and stakeholders in highway safety in January 2004. The result was the formation of the West Virginia DUI Taskforce.  Over the next two months a year round Sustained Impaired Driving Enforcement Plan was developed, and it consists of a minimum of: 1,526 High Visibility Enforcement Events, 780 Public Education Events, 780 Media Events, 42 Training Opportunities, and 30 Age Specific Activities.  The GHSP, Commission on Drunk Driving Prevention, West Virginia State Police, WV Prosecutors Institute, Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, and local law enforcement make up the DUI Taskforce. This plan is still in effect and we are ahead of our  enforcement event goals.
 
The GHSP Law Enforcement Liaison Office is coordinating the efforts of local law enforcement and the eight Regional Traffic Safety Programs funded through GHSP. The Traffic Records Section of the WVSP will serve as a point of contact for the WVSP. 
 
In 2003 - 148 people were killed in alcohol related traffic crashes.  37% of all fatalities in West Virginia were alcohol related.

In 2004 - 136 people were killed in alcohol related traffic crashes. 33% of all fatalities in West Virginia were alcohol related.
 
Checkpoint Strikeforce WV goals and objectives:
 
1) Reduce the Fatality Rate per HMVMT from .77 to .53  by June 30, 2005
 2004 – Reduced to -.67
 
2) Reduce the Percentage of Alcohol Related Fatalities to less than 28% by June 30, 2005
 2004 – Reduced from 37% to 33%
 
3) To Increase the numbers of persons arrested for DUI Offenses  by 10% from 9,785 to 10,076 by June 30, 2005
 2004 – DUI Arrest -  9,787
 
4) To obtain $200,000 in Earned Media during the course of the campaign
 
5) To reduce the total number of alcohol related crashes to less than 2,500 by June 30, 2005.
 2003- 3,541
 
6) To reduce the successful Alcohol Buys by underage persons to below 20% by June 30, 2006

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