SAN FRANCISCO – The number of intoxicated drivers arrested by the CHP over Memorial Day weekend decreased slightly from the number of arrests that were made last year in the Bay Area and all over the state. However, CHP reported that fatal collisions in the Bay Area are up, but DUI arrests are down from last year.
Throughout the state, California Highway Patrol arrested 1,133 impaired drivers between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. today. In 2012, the number of intoxicated drivers was 1,161 for that time period. This year during Memorial Day weekend, fewer drunk driving arrests were made statewide as compared to last year.
According to CHPs preliminary report, 165 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence as of this morning in the Bay Area. Last year, 166 arrests were made related to drunk driving. CHP reported that over the weekend, 2 people died in DUI road accidents in the Bay Area. Only 1 person died in the same time period in 2012.
In California, 15 people died in road accidents from which 4 were motorcycle accidents. Last year, 11 people died in traffic crashes.
California Highway Patrol noted that 6 of the people killed in car accidents in its jurisdiction were not wearing safety belts.
