First-time DWI arrests increase Memorial Day weekend

Arrests for first-time DWI offenders were up more than 41 percent during this year’s Memorial Day weekend, according to Midland County Sheriff’s Office arrest records.

There were 18 DWI arrests between Friday and Monday — the same number of arrests in 2012 during the holiday’s four-day weekend time frame, according to the records.

Of this year’s arrests, 17 were first-time offenders, five more than last year. Fifteen DWIs were Class B misdemeanors, an 87.50 percent increase. There weren’t any second- or third-time offenders this Memorial Day weekend.

Public intoxication arrests also were up by 20 percent with 24 charges, four more than the holiday weekend in 2012.

This past weekend also saw one arrest for intoxicated manslaughter when a San Angelo man struck a motorcyclist Saturday night and fled the scene on foot, according to previous Reporter-Telegram articles.

Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said he attributes the increase in arrests of first-time offenders to a greater law enforcement presence on the roadways.

He said that during this year’s Crude Fest, the Sheriff’s Office made more arrests related to alcohol, which prompted increased enforcement during the Memorial Day weekend, when many people were expected to be consuming alcohol.

The Midland Police Department has made 240 DWI arrests through May 20 of this year, according to Sara Higgins, the city’s public information officer. She said it’s not surprising to see an increase in DWI arrests with the city’s rapidly growing population.

The law enforcement increase comes in the wake of a “drastic” rise in alcohol-related accidents, Painter said.

In the past three fatal crashes in Midland County, the drivers all were under the influence of alcohol, according to Reporter-Telegram records. With the National Transportation Safety Board’s recent recommendation to lower the legal blood alcohol content limit from 0.08 to 0.05, Painter said the legal limit should be even lower.

“I want to see the legal limit lowered to 0.02,” he said.

Painter said people should not be drinking and driving, regardless of how much alcohol they have consumed. He said with less restrictive alcohol laws, people frequently will take advantage of the law.

“If you give them a foot, they’re going to take a mile,” he said.

Painter said the best and safest place to consume alcohol is at home or a place where a person can stay and not get back on the roadways. Memorial Day Weekend 2013 Statistics

First-time offenders: 17 (41.67 percent more than 2012)

Open container of alcohol: 1 (one more than 2012)

Public intoxication: 24 (four more than 2012)

DWI: 15 (87.50 percent more than 2012)

2nd DWI : 0 (three fewer than 2012)

3rd DWI: 0 (three fewer than 2012)

DWI open alcohol container: 2 (one more than 2012)

2nd DWI open alcohol container: 0 (one fewer than 2012)

DWI with child under 15 years of age: 0 (one fewer than 2012)

Minor in possession of alcohol: 0 (two fewer than 2012)

Intoxicated manslaughter: 1 (one more than 2012)

DWI with a BAC >= 0.15: 0 (one fewer than 2012)

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Source: My west Texas (White, 5/28)

Round Rock increases use of flashing yellow arrow lights

Motorists in Round Rock are undergoing a transition in how they manage left turns.

On Nov. 13, the city began converting the left-turn signals along some of its busiest corridors. The new systems, which add a flashing yellow arrow to the existing green, yellow and red arrow signals already in place, were first installed along University Boulevard and have since expanded to Gattis School Road.

The changes, which were done in compliance with new federal and state standards for left-turn signals, are designed to eliminate confusion as to the meaning of left-turn signals, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Round Rock transportation officials, however, admit the new system will take some time and experience for motorists to adjust to.

“There is no question there is a bit of a learning curve,” Round Rock Transportation Director Gary Hudder said. “But I have seen over the last weeks an improved understanding. At this point I would say I’m a believer.”

The flashing yellow arrows act as a replacement left-turn signal to the green circle light, which according to TxDOT was commonly confused to mean a protected left turn. When drivers are given a flashing yellow arrow signal, it indicates that left turns are allowed, but that motorists should yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians in walkways. The remaining light signals act as they did prior to the change. A steady green arrow indicates a protected turn, a steady red arrow indicates stopping and a steady yellow arrow means drivers should prepare to stop.

“The No. 1 benefit is improved safety,” TxDOT spokeswoman Kelli Reyna said. “People already have it ingrained in their mind that yellow means slow down or stop, so it is helping them to be more cautious.”

Hudder said one benefit of the new system is improved traffic flow. The new system allows traffic systems to display the flashing yellow lights when in the past the lights would have remained red. The result is an increase in the amount of cars turning left during the average light cycle.

“We have seen up to a 30 percent improvement in left-turn through traffic,” Hudder said.

According to evidence collected by another Texas city that has been running the flashing yellow arrow system, the greatest benefit may be to traffic flow, not drivers’ safety.

The City of Waco began installing the flashing yellow arrow systems in June 2010, soon after the new federal mandates were released. The city is currently studying the effect of the light systems and has noticed an increase in accidents at several of the intersections since the change, said Colin Taylor, a City of Waco traffic analyst.

“Whenever you change a signal system, it is something that people take some time to get used to,” Taylor said.

The City of Waco’s Transportation Department released a study one year after the installation of its first flashing yellow arrow signals that found a slight increase in the number of accidents but a decrease in travel time along some corridors.

“While the safety for some approaches ... [has] not improved due to the allowance of permissive left-turns ... the amount of delays, stops and consumption of fuel has been greatly reduced due to this implementation,” the report stated.

The new systems are only required in newly constructed intersections. Round Rock’s Transportation Department, however, decided to integrate the system onto some of its busiest roads to coincide with the retiming of its light signals. Hudder said the city already has plans to add the flashing yellow lights to intersections along Old Settlers Boulevard and is also planning to include signals along Hwy. 79 and RM 620 in the near future.

Hudder said the conversion to the new system will cost the city an average of $1,500–$2,000 per intersection, paid from the city’s existing traffic signal budget.

“This is a pretty intricate process,” Hudder said about the light conversions. “It does require different [signal] hardware and sometimes computer software as well.”

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Source: Impact Newspaper (Eichmiller, 5/2)

DOT maps campaign against distracted driving

Washington— The U.S. Transportation Department is stepping up efforts to crack down on distracted driving, unveiling $2.4 million in federal support for pilot projects in California and Delaware.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood offered a strategy to address a "distraction epidemic." He outlined steps to pass more laws, address technology and crack down on texting. But LaHood said he will not call for a ban on hands-free calling unless research shows it makes sense.

LaHood urged carmakers to avoid adding unnecessary technologies to distract drivers.

"Distracted driving is an epidemic. While we've made progress in the past three years by raising awareness about this risky behavior, the simple fact is people are continuing to be killed and injured — and we can put an end to it," LaHood said.

[If you've been injured in an accident due to distracted driving, contact the Texas Injury Lawyers]

LaHood wants the remaining 11 states to ban texting behind the wheel. He also wants the auto industry to adopt guidelines for technology to reduce potential for distraction.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers praised LaHood's focus, but said more work is necessary. "We need a single set of comprehensive guidelines that encourage hands-free, voice-activated controls like those systems available from automakers," spokeswoman Gloria Bergquist said.

The government is providing California and Delaware with $2.4 million of support for pilot programs that will examine whether increased police enforcement coupled with news media coverage can significantly reduce distracted driving. The Transportation Department in 2010 implemented programs in Hartford, Conn., and Syracuse, N.Y. Texting dropped 72 percent in Hartford and 32 percent in Syracuse.

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source: Detroit News (Shepardson, 6/8)

GM recalls three big crossover models over bad wipers

General Motors is recalling about 50,000 large crossover SUVs to fix a windshield-wiper problem.

The recall affects 2011 and 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia vehicles registered in 28 cold-weather states and Washington, D.C. Federal safety regulators say ice and snow can build up and restrict movement of the wipers. That can make the wiper arm come loose and malfunction.

GM says dealers will fasten the wipers tighter than factory specifications to stop the problem from happening. The company says the loss of wipers hasn't caused any crashes or injuries. GM will send letters to owners and start the recall later this month.

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source: USA Today (Woodyard, 4/13)



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