The Atascadero Police Department is planning to set a traffic checkpoint on Fridays at any unidentified location in the city. It will aim at keeping a check on unlicensed drivers and those who drive under the effect of alcohol.

The DUI and the driving license checkpoint will be installed between 6:30 P.M. to 12:30 A.M.

In order to reduce the number of crashes leading to deaths and injuries due to drunken driving, the checkpoints will be placed. They are a part of the campaign to create awareness among the people.

The Acting Police Chief Stephen Gesell said that there have been several accidents in the past three years under the effect of alcohol. He further said that there have been around 5 deaths and 47 injuries in various DUI crashes.

The total number of traffic deaths dropped down by 23% in the year 2009. The number of traffic deaths was 3,995 in the year 2007 which fell down to 3,081 in 2009.

The traffic deaths have recorded the least numbers in the past six decades. According to the statistical data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality recording systems, the DUI deaths have also fallen by 16%. It decreased to 950 in 2009 from 1,132 in 2007.

But among the total recorded traffic accidents, the maximum number of traffic deaths result from the drunken driving. Around 31% of deaths occur from the negligence caused by the drivers driving under the effect of alcohol.

Gesell said that the DUI checkpoints have proved to be an effective method to bring down the rate of the drunken driving.

Besides the DUI, the driver licenses are also checked as unlicensed drivers are also involved in many fatal crashes.

News Source: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/05/25/1615332/atascadero-dui-checkpoint.html