Latest news with #Governor'sTrafficSafetyCommittee
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Holiday traffic safety blitz nets arrests
Local law enforcement agencies had an active St. Patrick's Day weekend, as they blitzed area roadways as part of their ongoing targeted high-visibility traffic safety campaigns. After two consecutive safety initiatives failed to record any impaired driving arrests, participating police departments between March 13 and 18 registered single arrests each for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving while impaired by drugs (DWAI). The effort, centered around the March holiday weekend, used enhanced road patrols that saw officers and deputies engage with 54 motorists. Those traffic stops resulted in 41 vehicle and traffic law citations issued. Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti, whose office tracks the effectiveness of the traffic safety initiative, hailed the results. He said the goal of the initiative is to 'bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.' 'It's to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives,' he said. The high-visibility law enforcement effort is part of a yearly statewide initiative that is promoted and funded by STOP-DWI New York and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. Over the course of enhanced patrols during the 2024 Christmas, New Year's, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Super Bowl, St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays Niagara Region law enforcement agencies participating in the safety campaign conducted 241 traffic stops, accompanied by 11 secondary screenings. That activity led to 6 arrests for driving while intoxicated and 1 for driving while ability impaired by drugs for the year. Officers and deputies also made an additional 13 arrests on non-traffic related charges, while issuing 173 vehicle and traffic law citations, including 4 for no seat belt. The St. Patrick's Day enforcement effort resulted in a single seat belt ticket and two non-vehicle and traffic-related arrests. Locally, Niagara County Sheriff's Office deputies and officers from New York State Park Police, North Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Lewiston, Middleport and Town of Niagara police departments participated in the enforcement efforts. 'We focus our engagement on impaired driving,' Filicetti said. 'While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.'
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Hochul announces St. Pat's traffic crackdown
Increased state police and local law enforcement patrols will conducted across through St. Patrick's Day. The annual traffic safety enforcement period began Monday and will operate through Monday, St, Patrick's Day, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul's office. 'When I became governor, I promised to make New York safer for everyone,' she said. 'These traffic enforcement periods are critical to holding motorists accountable and preventing tragedies on our roadways.' State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Governor's Traffic Safety Committee Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder added, 'There is absolutely no excuse for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Put your safety and the safety of others first. Designate a sober driver to get home. The simple steps of having a plan for a safe ride saves lives.' State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, 'Through education and enforcement, the New York State Police continuously work to keep drunk and impaired drivers off the road and remind people of the dangers of drinking and driving. I thank our partners at the Department of Motor Vehicles for their shared mission in keeping New York's roads safe. This St. Patrick's Day, don't make a fatal decision that costs your life or someone else's.' In addition to DWI checkpoints, law enforcement officers will increase road patrols during the traffic enforcement period to surveil for drivers who are speeding or distracted, or those violating the 'Move Over Law,' the release stated. State police will also conduct checks at retail establishments targeting underage drinking and unlawful sales to minors during the campaign. During last year's St. Patrick's Day impaired driving enforcement campaign, officers statewide arrested 935 motorists who were DWI, issued 24,699 tickets — 4,600 of which were for speeding violations, the release stated.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hochul announces highway safety funding
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, March 6 that $90 million is now available to help local governments enhance safety and reduce fatalities on their roads. According to a news release from Hochul's office, the funding is part of a comprehensive 'Safe System' approach toward zero deaths being deployed by the state Department of Transportation to reduce fatalities on all highway systems across New York. The funding will support projects intended to prevent vehicles from inadvertently straying from their lanes and to lessen the severity of crashes that result from those instances. In New York state, about 40% of crash fatalities occur when a vehicle departs from its lane. The initiative is part of a multi-year, multi-agency action plan released last year by NYSDOT to reduce such incidents and minimize the injuries and fatalities that result from them. 'Safe highways save lives and through the adoption of a 'Safe System' approach, we are holistically looking at our highway systems to see where our safety investments can make the biggest difference in reducing fatalities,' Hochul said. 'The funding we are making available today will help local governments design and implement projects that will enhance the safety of their roadways and make it more likely that drivers reach their destination unharmed.' Last summer, NYSDOT released the Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan, which calls for comprehensive approach to be undertaken by the department and its partner agencies to reduce fatalities and serious injuries that result when vehicles inadvertently depart their lanes or the roadway. Under the plan, NYSDOT is focusing on engineering improvements, public education and awareness campaigns, and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee is coordinating law enforcement activities, the release stated. Funding for the projects is available through the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Safety Improvement Program and may be used to support the design and construction of countermeasures intended to reduce roadway or lane departures and lessen the likelihood that departure-related crashes cause death or serious injury. Such countermeasures include, but are not limited to, enhanced striping, curve warning signs, rumble strips and median barriers, the release stated. A portion of the funds — about $10 million — has been set aside to support local municipalities in developing Local Road Safety Plans, which identify and analyze problem areas and prioritize potential safety improvements. Minimum available funds per local project is $250,000. Entities eligible to sponsor a project include counties, towns, villages and Native nations and metropolitan planning organizations. Counties interested in sponsoring a project on behalf of one or more municipalities within their county also are eligible to apply. For more information, visit
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Local traffic safety blitzes gaining results
LOCKPORT — It may be a case of mission accomplished for Niagara Region law enforcement agencies, as a second straight targeted high-visibility traffic safety campaign failed to record any impaired driving arrests. In an effort centered on the Super Bowl weekend of Feb. 8-9, local police agencies, using enhanced patrols, made only two arrests, both for crimes not related to traffic safety. They also conducted 58 traffic stops, resulting in the issuance of 48 vehicle and traffic law citations. The results continue a trend that began to emerge in holiday-related high-visibility safety campaigns throughout 2024. In a two-week effort that spanned the Christmas and New Year's holidays, officers and deputies made no drunken driving arrests and only one arrest for driving while ability impaired by drugs (DWAI). Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti, whose office tracks the effectiveness of the traffic safety initiative, says its goal is to 'bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.' The sheriff said the bottom line for the safety efforts is, 'To stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.' Over the course of enhanced safety patrols during the 2024 Christmas, New Year's, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Super Bowl, St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays Niagara Region law enforcement agencies conducted 241 traffic stops, accompanied by 11 secondary screenings. Those stops and screenings led to 6 arrests for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and 1 for driving while ability impaired by drugs (DWAI) for the year. The safety campaigns also netted an additional 13 arrests in non-traffic related charges. Officers and deputies, during the 2024 campaigns, issued 173 vehicle and traffic law citations, including 4 for no seat belt. The annual statewide enforcement initiatives are promoted and funded by STOP-DWI New York and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. Locally, New York State Police troopers, Niagara County Sheriff's Office deputies and officers from New York State Park Police, North Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Lewiston, Middleport and Somerset police departments participated in the enforcement efforts. 'We focus our engagement on impaired driving,' Filicetti said. 'While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers.'
