The Wake Forest Police Department is sounding the alarm for residents with a firm reminder: steer clear of drinking and driving. Citing a significant uptick in Driving While Impaired (DWI) arrests, reported by the Town of Wake Forest’s news site, the department’s concerns are far from unfounded. In a sobering count, 79 individuals have been apprehended since the start of 2025, outpacing prior years with 23 in January, 26 in February, and 30 arrests made in March alone.
Compared with past years’ records – 128 in 2023 and 243 in 2024 – the current arrest rate projects a staggering estimate of over 300 DWI arrests for the year if the trend doesn’t reverse. During a time when the roads should be getting safer, Interim Police Chief Julius Jefferson spotlights a “troubling trend” that is making them more perilous. “We have a zero-tolerance policy against impaired driving,” Jefferson told the Town of Wake Forest’s news site. “Driving under the influence is careless and reckless. It not only endangers the life of the driver, but it can also have deadly consequences for passengers and others on the road.”
Wake Forest drivers are encouraged by Jefferson to think ahead if drinking alcohol is in their plans, by selecting a friend to stay sober or opting for a ride-sharing service. Highlighting the community’s resource, “Go Wake Forest” as a free option, Jefferson also reminds locals that, “even a service you pay for – like a taxi, Uber, and Lyft – are all a lot cheaper than what a DWI would cost or even worse, what a deadly crash will cost you and others.”…