Lee County Launches Holiday Campaign Against Impaired Driving as Regional Arrests Top 1,000

Law enforcement across Southwest Florida announced a tougher crackdown on impaired driving this holiday season. Troopers have made 1,000 DUI arrests in the area this year. Officials met on Tuesday to warn drivers about drunk, drugged, drowsy, and distracted driving.

"Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs continues to be the most often committed and deadliest crime in America," said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, according to News-Press.

Impaired drivers kill someone 34 times per day on average nationwide, said Florida Highway Patrol Maj. William Harris. That's one person every 42 minutes.

Texting while driving combines visual, manual, and cognitive distractions, making it the most dangerous. A car going 55 mph covers more than 80 feet per second. Sending or reading a text takes about four seconds of attention.

"At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed," Marceno said.

Fort Myers Police Capt. Walter Mitchell said impairment also includes prescription medication and over-the-counter drugs. In the past three years, trauma patients have tested positive for drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.

Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as intoxication. Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said periods of micro sleep can last between 4 and 5 seconds. A road trip of 20 hours or more equals having a .08 blood-alcohol content.