Bainbridge police begin Safe Family Travel blitz

BAINBRIDGE -- Town Marshal Rodney Fenwick has announced the Bainbridge police will begin a 16-day Safe Family Travel initiative on Friday, Nov. 16.

The statewide blitz is focused on seatbelt and impaired driving patrols.

In November 2011 there were 476 alcohol-related collisions in Indiana, resulting in five fatalities. There were also 415 collisions that reported non-restraint use, which resulted in 12 fatalities.

Safe Family Travel is an annual enforcement effort that combines high-visibility seatbelt and impaired driving patrols.

Conducted by more than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies, the effort is funded by federal highway safety funding from Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

During this blitz, which runs through Dec. 2, Indiana law enforcement officers will work thousands of overtime hours -- day and night -- to ensure that motorists are driving responsibly and traveling safely on the state's roadways.

Fenwick said Bainbridge will be the only local law enforcement agency taking part in the blitz.

Bainbridge participates in four different blitzes throughout the year -- one each in November, March, May and August.