DWI On The Rise: New Year's Warning

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published December 30, 2016 at 3:00 PM EST

With the holiday season comes highway tragedies. Despite news stories and negative publicity, drunk driving is on the rise.

Officials, including Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, are concerned. "19 fatalities in Albany County alcohol-related. 19. It's our second-highest year in three."

According to CBS News, during 2016 across the country an average of 28 people per day have died in DUI-related crashes.

Apple is urging New Year's Eve party-goers this weekend to plan ahead if they'll be drinking. He adds there will be extra patrols out.

Many communities are offering free cab rides for the holiday. The New York State Thruway Authority will continue its 46-year tradition of offering free coffee and hot tea to travelers at its 27 service areas New Year’s Eve and into the morning.

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Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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