Cape Coral Police Department conducts impaired driving operation

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

New data from the Cape Coral Police Department shows the city ranks seventh out of 38 in impaired driving-related deaths and serious injuries on the Highway Safety Matrix, a data set from the Florida Department of Transportation, as drivers prepare for the Christmas dinner rush.

"No one's telling you not to drink, but take the other options," said Linda Yake, a Cape Coral resident. "It just isn't worth totaling your car, killing somebody, or injuring somebody."

The department partnered with FDOT to track impaired drivers and released the results from the night of Dec. 20 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. During this time, police stopped 61 people, issued 27 speeding citations, and made a DUI arrest.

"I make it a point of not driving on holiday nights," said Tim Scoff, another Cape Coral resident. "It's a dangerous night to be on the road. There's a lot of people out. People are driving impaired."

Yake noted the city's growth, saying, "I think the concentration of Cape Coral has grown so much with people, so it is a little bit of a surprise, but people like to party here."

The department is partnering with FDOT’s Traffic Safety Office to increase enforcement, education, and patrol efforts.

"I don't think the department has power to make smarter choices. I think you and I do. You and I can make smart choices, but the department, all they can do is cite people after they've made bad choices. Hopefully that will motivate people to make better choices," Scoff added.

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