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Weeklong Drunken-Driving Crackdown Planned Statewide

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RALEIGH, N.C. — There have been 678 deaths on state highways this year alone. Nearly 15 percent of the wrecks were alcohol-related.

"We're going to crack down on drunk drivers statewide, especially in areas that have had the most alcohol-related collisions," said Lt. Everett Clendenin with the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

The Highway Patrol is launching a weeklong initiative called Operation Summer Heat to reduce alcohol-related crashes, injuries and fatalities on state highways. The operation will last seven days starting Monday, with checkpoints and roving patrols.

"We do see a lot of travel in these four months; vacation, weekend get-togethers," said Clendenin. "Unfortunately, alcohol is involved, and we see an increase in impaired driving."

Some drivers said the crackdown is long overdue.

"You see it every day with someone getting killed, someone getting hit," said Janie Sweat. "The innocent is the one that gets hurt, not the drunk driver. Anything they can do to get them off the road is great."

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