JUL-SEP 2015

Governor SuSana Martinez unveilS adcaMpaiGn to end dwi

new Mexico iMpleMentS firSt older driver proGraM

June 6th BecoMeS Safer new Mexico now day!

click it or ticket Seat Belt enforceMent caMpaiGn kickoff

dwi enforceMent in new Mexico

Seat Belt SurveyS in new Mexico

calendar of eventS

Many children uSinGSeat BeltS Should ridein BooSter SeatS

Santa ana officerSelected for Maddconference

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New Mexico Implements First Older Driver Program The “baby boomer” generation is quickly yielding an increasing population of older adults. The resulting shift in age distribution means more drivers and passengers who are age 65 and older. With current life expectancy increasing and advances in medicine, older people are also staying mobile and active longer, including their likelihood of driving later in life.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and Safer New Mexico Now (Safer) have developed, and are in the process of implementing a comprehensive older driver safety program that aims to reduce older driver crashes, fatalities, and injuries in New Mexico. Through programming efforts, older

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drivers can be empowered to further enhance their own safety and improve the safety of all road users, while maintaining a high quality of life. The NMDOT and Safer have now successfully conducted the first pilot trainings in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. The training curricula was designed to educate law enforcement, medical providers, and senior service providers.clIck tO cONtINue ON Page 2

governor Susana Martinez unveils ad campaign to end DWICampaign Raises Awareness About Dangers & Consequences of Driving DrunkBy Melissa Dosher, NMDOT Public Information Officer

On June 19th, Governor Susana Martinez unveiled an ad campaign that raises awareness about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving. The Governor also kicked off 100 Days and Nights of Summer, a statewide law enforcement effort that puts more police officers on the roads to target drunk drivers.

“Drunk driving has a devastating impact on New Mexico’s families, and we should do everything we can to stop it,” said Governor Martinez, “That means tougher penalties, cracking down on DWI in every corner of our State, and letting New Mexicans know about the consequences.” Governor Martinez added, “Our message is clear: If you drink and drive, you pay the price.”

In addition, the ad campaign raises awareness about the dangers and consequences of texting while driving, distracted driving, and refusing to wear a seatbelt. The theme of this year’s 100 Days and Nights of Summer

campaign is “What’s the worst that can happen?” The announcement was held at Presbyterian Hospital where doctors and nurses see firsthand the worst that happens when drivers make poor decisions.

From June 19th through September 30th, drivers will see more DWI checkpoints, saturation patrols, and more officers on the road. “When you’re the driver, your only responsibility is to keep your eyes on the road, hands onclIck tO cONtINue ON Page 3 PHOTOS BY: SAFER NEW MEXICO NOW

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June 6th Becomes Safer New Mexico Now Day!June 6, 2015 marked the 30th anniversary for Safer New Mexico Now (Safer)! To celebrate this momentous occasion, Mayor Richard Berry officially declared June 6th as “Safer New Mexico Now Day.” Safer was founded in 1985, with the goal of reducing deaths and injuries on New Mexico’s roadways, which, at the time, held the highest fatality rate in the Nation.

Today, the organization continues its work to advance traffic safety throughout the State, with the belief that the best

PHOTOS BY: SAFER NEW MEXICO NOW

way to battle traffic-related death and injury is through education, prevention, and enforcement. In order to address the modern-day, complex issues concerning traffic safety, Safer coordinates educational, community outreach, and law enforcement programs in cooperation with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Traffic Safety Division (TSD) and law-enforcement agencies statewide.

click It or ticket Seat Belt enforcement campaign kickoff On Monday, May 18, representatives from various traffic safety and law enforcement organizations gathered at the Balloon Fiesta Park to kickoff Click It or Ticket, a national seat belt enforcement campaign. As part of the initiative, law enforcement agencies around the country increased seat belt enforcement from May 18th through May 31st, known to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

“With the Memorial Day weekend around the corner, we want to make sure people are using their seat belts. This one simple step is a proven life saver in motor vehicle crashes. If these enforcement crackdowns get people’s attention and get them to buckle up, then we’ve done our job,” said New Mexico Department of Transportation Cabinet Secretary Tom Church. Other speakers at the event included New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas, Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden, Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III, and Safer New Mexico Now CEO Lisa Kelloff.

PHOTOS BY: SAFER NEW MEXICO NOW

New Mexico Implements First Older Driver ProgramcONtINueD FrOM Page 1

Through these efforts, New Mexico will become the first state in the Nation to have a comprehensive, statewide program of this caliber. Our State will lead the Nation in addressing elderly driver issues with public and private partnerships. This programming will be consistent with the new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) directive for states to develop and implement a comprehensive older driver highway safety program and achieve a significant reduction in traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries on public roads. For more information about New Mexico’s Older Driver Program, please visit www.safernm.org/older-drivers.aspx.

tips for Staying Safe Duringthe Summer Driving SeasonBy Julie Lee, Vice President and National Director of AARP Driver SafetyAccording to recent Department of Transportation data, summer (not winter as many might expect) is the most dangerous driving season. Eighteen percent more fatal accidents occurred during the summer months of June through August in 2012 compared to the winter months of December through February. Multiple factors contribute to this spike in crashes including increased road congestion due to vacation travel and a rise in road work. To help prepare for this summer driving season, here are a few tips to ensure that your next road trip is a safe one.

tIP 1: Check your tires to stay safe and save money. Well-maintained tires provide protection against avoidable breakdowns and crashes, improved vehicle handling, better fuel economy, and increased tire life.

tIP 2: When packing for a trip, don’t exceed your car’s payload capacity. Your owner’s manual has information about the maximum weight of all cargo and passengers your vehicle can safely carry. Before heading out, also double check that you can clearly see out of all your windows.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOuT SAFER

DWI enforcement in New MexicoBy Sergeant Charlie Files, Los Lunas Police Department

New Mexico has come a long way in its efforts to combat DWI. Since 2005, our DWI related fatalities have decreased an astonishing 40 percent. What is the reason for this dramatic change? The introduction of the Interlock Law gave New Mexico Courts an invaluable tool in lowering repeat offender cases. Law Enforcement agencies statewide hold supporting programs through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). Officers are trained, at a minimum, once every two years in the administration and interpretation of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, and penalties for Driving Under the Influence are widely publicized on television and social media.

Yet, despite all the positive progression in fighting DWI, we have a long way to go. unfortunately, the battle against impaired driving can never be “won.” While a DWI arrest before a crash is considered a “win,” such an arrest following a crash is quite the opposite. It is paramount that field officers conduct aggressive impaired driving enforcement. However, in every agency there are always those officers who shy away from DWI enforcement. This could present a serious obstacle to the overall goal of decreasing DWIs, especially for smaller municipalities across the State.

DWI enforcement has a “black cloud” hovering above it within the law enforcement community because, truthfully, it takes a lot of work.

Completing paperwork, ensuring the breath test is administered in accordance with the New Mexico Implied Consent Act, and writing a report that can beat defenses before they are brought up in court takes hours, even for the most experienced DWI officer. In fact, a DWI investigation is one of the most complex a beat officer can conduct. The most motivated patrol officer could be discouraged after completing all this work, only to have the case dismissed in court due to a technicality or an overlooked step during the investigation.

unfortunately, there is no perfect way for DWI advocates to help show the field officer the importance of DWI enforcement. Officers must be encouraged to “look past the ticket” and dig a little deeper to identify impaired drivers. Officers must also be reminded to trust their field sobriety tests, regardless of the prevalence of law suits against law enforcement agencies and officers in today’s world. Officers must be reminded that New Mexico’s DWI statute reads “impaired to the slightest degree.” Most importantly, they must continue to be supported and encouraged by their peers, trainers, supervisors and administrators, as they remain the first line of defense in our fight against DWI.

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the wheel, and concentration on the task of driving. No one’s lives – neither your passengers nor any other road users – are worth a phone call or text,” said New Mexico Department of Transportation Cabinet Secretary Tom Church.

During last year’s campaign, New Mexico law enforcement officers made 74 DWI arrests, issued 1,936 seat belt citations, 689 child restraint citations, 12,712 speeding citations, 455 cell phone citations, and made 33 felony arrests.

Governor Martinez has repeatedly fought for tougher DWI penalties. Just this year, she called on lawmakers to crack down on repeat offenders and increase penalties for those who recklessly toss the keys to someone whose license has been suspended due to a DWI conviction. The Governor will continue her fight to make New Mexico’s roads safer from drunken drivers. Other speakers at the event included New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas, New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas, Edgewood Police Chief Fred Radosovich, and Presbyterian Emergency Medicine Medical Director Darren Shafer.

CLICK TO VIEW ENDWI ADS

governor Susana Martinez unveils ad campaign to end DWIcONtINueD FrOM Page 1

Seat Belt Surveys in New MexicoMotor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among those aged 1-54 in the Nation. In 2012, more than two million adult drivers and passengers were treated in emergency departments as the result of being injured in motor vehicle crashes. Seat belt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes. Seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by nearly a half. While air bags provide added protection, they are not a substitute for seat belts. Yet millions of adults do not wear their seat belts on every trip.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the teens that died in crashes in 2012, approximately 55% were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Adults ages 18-34 are less likely to wear seat belts than adults age 35 or older. Men are 10% less likely to wear seat belts than women. Adults who live in rural areas are 10% less likely to wear seat belts than adults who live in urban and suburban areas.

In order to evaluate the seat belt use rate in New Mexico (currently at 91%), a team of trained personnel are conducting seat belt surveys throughout the State during the month of June. Nighttime seat belt surveys are to be conducted in late summer. CLICK FOR NEW MExICO

SEAT BELT STATISTICS

tips for Staying Safe During the Summer Driving SeasontIP 3: Manage glare and heat. Keep sunglasses handy and use a sun shield beneath your windshield when parked to keep your car’s interior heat down. Never leave a child or a pet unattended in a vehicle. The summer sun can also dehydrate you during long roads trips so always travel with plenty of water.

PHOTO BY: NMDOT

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alamogordoThird Saturday of each month (505) 439-4300

albuquerque: NE2nd and 4th Fridays of each month (505) 856-6143

albuquerque: SWThird Thursday of each month (505) 856-6143

albuqerque: CentralFirst Friday of each month (505) 272-6024

Farmington Third Saturday of each month (800) 231-6145

las crucesFirst Wednesday of each month (800) 231-6145

las VegasLast Wednesday of each month (800) 231-6145

rio ranchoFirst Friday of each month (800) 231-6145

Santa Fe2nd and 4th Fridays of each month

(505) 471-3965(800) 231-6145

100 days and nights of Summer

Mini Superblitz: endwi and Bklup

child Safety Seat clinic, ruidoSo downS,5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.walmart, 26180 uS hwy 70

Selective Traffic Enforcement Programtraining, ruidoSo

transportation commission Meeting,loS lunaS

Jun 19-Sep 30

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July dwi checkpoint training, aztec

child Safety Seat clinic alBuQuerQue, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.pitre kia auto dealership9640 eagle ranch rd nw

child Safety Seat clinic, Sunland park, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Sunland park fire department Station #2, 5650 Mcnutt

child Safety Seat clinic, raton11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.SuperSave Supermarket, 1265 South 2nd St.

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SfSt instructor update training, roSwell

dwi checkpoint training, rio rancho

child Safety Seat clinic, iSleta9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., pueblo of isleta healthcare center, #1 Sagebrush St.

law enforcement coordinators’ SymposiumalBuQuerQue

Selective Traffic Enforcement Programtraining, alBuQuerQue

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100 days and nights of Summer

child Safety Seat clinic, alBuQuerQue10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.lovelace westside hospital 10501 Golf course rd. nw

child Safety Seat clinic, cloviS1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., national night out, hilltop plaza, Green acres park

national child passenger Safety Certification Training, SANTA FE

child Safety Seat clinic, Santa fe1:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m., kohl’s, 4401 cerrillos rd.

Jun 19-Sep 30

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SfSt instructor train-the-trainer,laS cruceS

child Safety Seat clinic, portaleS4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., la casa family health center, 1515 w. fir St.

SfSt instructor update trainingrio rancho

transportation commission Meeting, Gallup

Superblitz: endwi and Bklupdrive Sober or Get pulled over

child Safety Seat clinic, Santa fe8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.Santa fe high School, 2200 west zia

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national child passenger Safety Certification Training, CLOVIS

nMdot wellness fair, Santa fe10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., General Office, 1120 cerrillos rd.

Selective Traffic Enforcement Programtraining, carlSBad

child Safety Seat clinic, cloviS1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., location tBd

child Safety Seat clinic, rio rancho9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.target, 4225 crestview dr. Se

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100 days and nights of Summer

Superblitz: endwi and Bklupdrive Sober or Get pulled over

transportation commission Meeting,portaleS

national Seat check Saturday(8 event locationS Statewide)

Jun 19 - Sep 30 aug 21- Sep 7

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child Safety Seat clinic, alBuQuerQue10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., kohl’s, 3715 ellison nw

child Safety Seat clinic, alBuQuerQue10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., kohl’s, 6800 holly ave ne

child Safety Seat clinic, alBuQuerQue10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., kohl’s, 6600 Menaul ne

child Safety Seat clinic, Santa fe10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., kohl’s, 4401 cerrillos

child Safety Seat clinic, laS cruceS10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., kohl’s, 2500 n. triviz

child Safety Seat fitting Station, alaMoGordo10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.alamogordo pd, 700 virginia

child Safety Seat fitting Station, farMinGton10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.fire Station #2, 3800 north english rd.

child Safety Seat fitting Station, laS veGaS10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.fire Station #1, 604 legion dr.

national Baby Safety awareness MonthSeptember

uPCOMING events Due to ongoing updates to the calendar of events, please clIck Here or visit www.safernm.org for the most current list.

FIttINg StatIONS offer child safety seat inspection appointments during regular hours of operation at nine permanent New Mexico locations.

T I P 4 C O N T I N u E D F R O M A B O V E

as runny eyes, frequent sneezing, congestion and

tips for Staying Safe During the Summer Driving SeasontIP 4: Manage summer allergies. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, one in five Americans suffers from an allergy that impacts their daily life. Driving with distracting allergy symptoms such C O N T I N u E D B E L O W

exhaustion can be dangerous. Plus, many over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications contain ingredients that make you drowsy. If you’re planning to drive, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure your allergy medications won’t impact your alertness or energy.

PHOTO BY: SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Many children using Seat Belts Should ride in Booster Seats Many parents are still confused about the proper use of a booster seat and when to allow children to use a seat belt. Transitioning from a booster seat or harnessed child safety seat to a seat belt alone is a major decision. In a national survey of 1,000 parents of booster-age children, nine out of ten parents moved their child into a seat belt too soon.

When asked the deciding factor in moving their child into a seat belt alone, 56 percent of parents cited reasons other than weight or height. Their child’s comfort or the opinions of their spouse were among the reasons for seat belt use (Safe Kids Worldwide Report September 2014).Carpools are especially tricky for some parents. One in five parents whose children carpool said they “bend the rules” when they drive, allowing children to ride without the booster seat or child safety seat they would normally use. Twenty-one percent of parents

Santa Ana Officer Selected for MaDD conferenceSanta Ana Police Officer Phillip Trujillo was selected as a New Mexico representative to attend Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD’s) 35th Anniversary National Conference, held on June 4th through 6th in Washington DC. MADD volunteers, law enforcement heroes, partners, and Field and National staff gathered to celebrate MADD’s milestone anniversary. “I feel very special and proud to represent New Mexico among the professionals that applied for this training,” stated Trujillo.

Specifically, Trujillo was chosen to attend DWI-related death notification training led by Lauren Rowe, National Director of Victim Services at MADD. The workshop titled “Death Notification for First Responders and Critical Personnel: Delivering the News with Compassion for the Bereaved and Concern for the Messenger” examined survivors’ reactions following a sudden death, the difference between grieving and mourning, and the unique characteristics of sudden and violent death.

For more information regarding ways to get involved with MADD visit www.madd.org.

of children that carpool at least one day a week say they rarely or never talk to other people driving the carpool about the type of safety seat their own child uses.

Children should ride in a booster seat or a child safety seat with an internal harness until the vehicle seat belt fits correctly. Booster seats must always be used with both lap and shoulder belts. Children less than thirteen should ride in the back seat.

The New Mexico law requires that a child meet a three-prong fit test before they are ready to be in a seat belt: 1. The lap belt must fit across the child’s upper thighs and hips (not the abdomen); aND 2. The shoulder belt must fit across the center of a child’s chest (not the neck); AND 3. the child must sit all the way back against the vehicle seat with their knees bent over the seat edge.

For more information on child passenger safety visit www.safernm.org.

The Traffic Safety News Publication is a federally-funded project from the NMDOT Traffic Safety Division. Contents may be republished with attribution. The contents of this newletter are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as an endorsement of any program. If you would like to submit articles, calendar events, or other items for consideration, please email: info@safernm.org, or call: (505) 856-6143.

Design and Content by Michelle Cisewski and Ana Schor

tIP 6: Share the road. Warm weather means more bicycles and motorcycles on the road and a spike in road work. Increase your following distance to four seconds or more when behind motorcycles. Constantly scan the roadway in front, to the rear, and to the sides of your vehicle for motorcyclists and bicyclists. When going through construction zones, use extreme caution, follow all road signs and look out for pedestrians or workers.

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tips for Staying Safe During the Summer Driving SeasontIP 5: Summer storms, and even showers, require extreme caution. Roads become very slippery in the first few minutes of rainfall because the rain mixes with the oil and dirt on the road. It takes about 30 minutes of steady rain to wash the oil and dirt off the road.

Law Enforcement Coordinators’ Symposium (LECS) Law enforcement coordinators representing more than 80 agencies participating in NMDOT- sponsored enforcement programs will be attending the annual LECS at the Sandia Resort in Albuquerque on July 29-30. The 2015 symposium will feature local and national speakers presenting a wide range of law enforcement-related topics. Additionally, many local and national exhibitors will be displaying their latest products and services.

PHOTOS BY: SAFER NEW MEXICO NOW