Press Release

BREMEN — The Indiana State Police announced on Thursday, Dec. 16, that it will be increasing patrols during the holiday season, as part of a statewide crackdown on impaired driving.

Starting this week until Jan. 1, officers will be on high alert for anyone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Law enforcement will also be watching for seat belt violations and other forms of dangerous driving.

This is part of the Safe Family Travel campaign aimed at reducing crashes and traffic fatalities around the holidays when statistics show an increased potential for drunk driving. The high-visibility patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

“This holiday season, troopers in the Bremen District will be working extra patrols to keep your family safe from dangerous drivers,” said Lieutenant Chad Larsh, commander of the Indiana State Police Bremen District. “A bad choice can change lives. If you drive impaired on drugs or alcohol, you will be arrested.”

Every year, more than 10,000 people die in drunk-driving crashes in the United States. That’s about one person every 52 minutes. While driving under the influence is a daily concern, it’s more prevalent around certain holidays, with Christmas and New Year’s among the deadliest.

Last December, 73 people lost their lives in fatal collisions in Indiana. Of those, 11 involved a drunk driver, according to ICJI.

“It’s important to remember that these aren’t just numbers we’re talking about,” said Robert Duckworth, ICJI traffic safety director. “These are people with loved ones whose lives were cut short due to impaired driving. Your choices behind the wheel matter, and they can have serious consequences.”