Drivers urged to be cautious during holidays

Academy of Human Development focused on educating Hispanics about road safety

Tiffany Gibson

Arcadio Bolonas, director of the Academy of Human Development, gives a presentation about DUI and seat belt fatalities in Nevada to Hispanic residents on Friday.

By Tiffany Gibson (contact)

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Nevada’s Impaired Driving Problem

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What: Metro Police sobriety checkpoint
When: Saturday, 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Where: Area of Flamingo and Lindell roads

DUI checkpoint

With the holiday season approaching and roads becoming more congested, drivers are being encouraged to be careful and refrain from drinking and driving.

Friday morning, Hispanic residents gathered at the Academy of Human Development, 235 N. Eastern Avenue, to learn about traffic safety and U.S. laws.

Attendees were given statistics about DUI, seat belt use and intersection traffic fatalities to encourage them to be responsible while driving, especially over the holidays.

“Some Latinos don’t like to wear seat belts or have car seats for their children because it’s their culture,” said Yvonne Griebling of the Academy of Human Development. “We are trying to emphasize and push the fact that the law is not the same here.”

Director Arcadio Bolonas said the Academy of Human Development is the first organization created in Nevada that is focused on educating Hispanics about road safety.

On Friday, Bolonas gave an hour-long presentation to kick off the organization’s campaign to improving Nevada’s impaired driving problem.

“There is no excuse for drinking and driving,” he said. “We have the audacity to provide education and awareness in a language (they) use.”

He said campaigns like Click It Or Ticket might help some people remember to buckle up, but it confuses some Hispanics who do not know what it means. “It’s so hard for us to translate because we have no previous translation from our country,” Bolonas said.

Sandy Heverly, executive director of STOP DUI, said one of the greatest issues Nevada faces is drunk driving.

Nationwide, two people are killed every hour in a drunk driving accident and one person is injured every minute because of a DUI, said Heverly, who was at the event.

“We need to pay attention during the holidays,” she said. “We see a significant increase in DUIs through Jan. 1.”

Bolonas said the Academy of Human Development will be providing information and hosting events to improve traffic safety each month. For more information visit the Web site www.ahdlv.org

The Las Vegas Metro Police Department will be holding a sobriety checkpoint this Saturday, Nov. 21 from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m. in the area of Flamingo and Lindell.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

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By mikegino

Nov. 21, 2009

11:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

I liked Arcadio better when he was just plain old Jose.
By caleeakins

Nov. 21, 2009

12:04 p.m.

Suggest removal

I saw on television that 90% of motorists believe they drive better than average. Something to ponder.
By rizzo1970

Nov. 21, 2009

1:04 p.m.

Suggest removal

RE: Caleeakins

There was a driving test online they used for a survey of drivers knowledge of road rules.
The statistics from that showed a really high number of people don't know what there doing other than pressing pedal's and trying to steer while talking on the phone or texting.