EDITORIAL: Police tackle addiction to prevent next tragedy

If you think we’re not moving forward as a society, just look at how police worded a press release about a state trooper and a tow truck driver who were hit and seriously injured by a driver who was allegedly under the influence of drugs.

Both victims are expected to require long-term care to recover.

The driver charged in the crash apparently had a prior drunk driving conviction within the last decade.

What was unusual about the police press release was the fact that they did not include the typical drunk driving statistics that show how many lives are lost or how many people end up in emergency rooms as a result of this irresponsible behavior.

They did not mention the possible penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol – including jail time, large fines, legal fees and loss of driver’s license – as a way to discourage people from causing future tragedies.

They did not cite state law that requires drivers to move into another lane to make room for vehicles stopped along the roadway.

That’s all legitimate information to include in a press release about the kind of crash that happens all too often and is 100 percent avoidable.

But police instead decided in their press release to focus on the next person who might get behind the wheel in an unstable physical state, emphasizing the “importance of seeking treatment for substance or alcohol addiction.”

The press release further encouraged people with addictions to seek help, offering the toll-free, confidential HOPEline and website for the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support (OASAS) – 1-877-846-7369; https://oasas.ny.gov/treatment.

Strong penalties to discourage drunk driving act as a deterrent. Statistics on the number of deaths and injuries can remind people of the scale of the problem. Reminding people of their obligations to move over and avoid endangering officers, tow truck drivers, emergency responders, highway crews and other motorists may force someone to take that precaution.

But none of these traditional tactics address the underlying problem that often leads to such tragedies: the problem of addiction.

Reminding people addicted to alcohol or drugs that help is available to them could be another factor in preventing another accident.

It is a sensible and enlightened approach to a widespread problem, and the police are to be commended for including it in their latest efforts to protect themselves and the public from the dangers of impaired drivers.