According to state government data, the number of fatalities fell from 175 to 104, compared with the 12 previous months.
Salvando Vidas is a permanent campaign aimed at reducing accidents and highway deaths related to alcohol consumption. The program sees teams of traffic officials set up breathalyzer checkpoints to identify drivers under the influence.
Most of the traps have been installed in metropolitan area Guadalajara, although the program has occasionally branched out to the provinces, including the Lake Chapala area on several occasions.
Anyone over the limit and in a state of intoxication is arrested and hauled off to the new Centro Urbano de Retención Vial por Alcoholimetría (CURVA) in Zapopan, to be held from 12 to 24 hours. Heavy fines can also be applied.
Secretaria de Movilidad (Semov) stats show that 181,725 breathalyzer checks were applied to motorists over the past year. Of these 5,588 were positive – one in every 32 tests. Checkpoints were installed on 207 days over the past 12 months.
After handing out recognition certificates to many of the Semov agents who participate in the nighttime checks, Sandoval said the program will be expanded in the lead up the Christmas period. Another 30 female officers have already been inducted into the program, and the number of nightly random check points Semov will set up is to be increased from five to ten.