Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Whit Johnson reporting It appears Utahns are getting the message when it comes to having a safe New Year's Eve on the roads. The Utah Highway Patrol says the number of DUIs was much lower than expected. It credits drunk driving awareness campaigns, enforcement and services that give people a ride home.
Cameron Roden, with the UHP, said, "It seems like we got the message out there. We're glad that [Monday] night was as uneventful as it was."
Leading up to New Year's Eve, the UHP warned the public: drive drunk, go to jail. They announced DUI check points and added patrols. They lived up to the threats too, but most Utahns didn't bite.
Roden said, "All the free programs and getting people home, it seems like it was a success so far."
Programs like attorney Keith Barton offering free cab rides through City Cab company, late bus and TRAX service, and AAA's "Tipsy Tow" helped get party-goers safely home.
Not everyone followed the rules, though. Around 9:20 Monday night a 17-year-old tried to flee from a routine traffic stop. He led troopers on an hour long chase that started in Tooele and ended near the mouth or Parley's Canyon.
Troopers were able to spike the teen's tires. When they finally arrested him, they discovered he'd been drinking. "He knew he was underage and shouldn't have been drinking. And that's why he said he fled from police," Roden said.
But the teenager was one of only six DUI arrests in Salt Lake and Utah counties overnight. The Deseret Morning News reports that's down from 10 over the 2007 holiday. This year there was not a single alcohol related car accident.
Statistics show that alcohol related fatalities in Utah have declined over the last 10 years, and UHP says making it through big holidays like New Year's Eve is a major step forward.
