Drunk driving and speeding cost more than citations

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency stopped a teenager in Pike Road for driving well over 100 mph on Wednesday night.

Officers from the department said they later discovered the driver had been drinking, and they said this is one of many cases where drinking and speeding have yielded serious consequences.

Cpl. Jesse Thornton said 40 percent of the accidents they respond to involve drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"Drinking and speeding don't mix," Thornton said. "And there is a direct correlation between then number of officers we have on duty and how many crashes there are. When we are short-staffed there are plenty more accidents and fatalities than when we have more people out to stop them."

Thornton said he hopes some people learn after getting citations, but that the focus should be on the consequences that are even more serious.

He said the bigger picture is that these crashes can end in death, including the deaths of people who were innocently hit by drunk drivers.

Anyone who wishes to report DUI and other issues and threats can find more information on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency website.

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