Designated drivers who refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages while visiting Old Town Night Clubs will be rewarded for not drinking and receive a prize from Officer Chris Doyle and Officer Jamie Cavitt. The prize give-away is just one segment of an evening of activities geared toward educating citizens on the dangers of drinking and driving. Many of the clubs will be providing free soft drinks and free or reduced admission to designated drivers.
Last year there were 35 traffic fatalities in the City of Wichita. Of those, alcohol was a contributing factor in 22 of the deaths. The Police Department neighborhood-based its traffic section in 2001 and launched its Comprehensive Traffic Safety Plan in early 2002.
Last November the Patrol South Bureau and the Old Town Merchants sponsored the first designated driver project. Through March 5 there have been no alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the city of Wichita. The Department hopes that projects like this one will raise awareness and help reduce the number of people driving under the influence, according to Officer Doyle.
As a part of the evening’s activities, Officers will be giving field sobriety demonstrations, and will also have a golf cart and “goofy goggles” on site to demonstrate how alcohol impairs a person’s ability to drive a vehicle.
“Every 32 minutes someone in this country dies in an alcohol related crash,” said Officer Doyle. “If I can keep just one person from drinking and driving, I will consider this event a success.” he said.
Citizens will have the opportunity to view a Police Department Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) van, and the DUI Victims Center and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department will also be participating in the evening’s activities.
Sponsors of this event include the Old Town Merchants and the House of Schwann.
“The Old Town Merchants have partnered with the Police Department on several other successful events and we expect this event will have a very positive impact on the community,” said Officer Doyle.
For additional information please contact Officer Chris Doyle or Officer Jamie Cavitt, Community Policing South, at 337-9000 or 337-9200.