[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 79 (Friday, May 12, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         HONORING FREEWAY WATCH

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the exemplary service 
the Freeway Watch Program provides to my home State in preventing 
freeway tragedy, promoting public safety, and enhancing law enforcement 
efficiency.
  Freeway Watch enhances highway safety by helping the Utah Highway 
Patrol and other law enforcement agencies identify and remove impaired 
drivers from Utah's highways. This program trains private citizens who 
have cellular telephones on how to identify possible drunk or drugged 
drivers and how to report these drivers to law enforcement agencies. In 
the 3 months that troopers have been giving classes, more than 1,400 
Utahns have been trained in this program.
  This program was organized after the tragic death of a Utah teenager. 
Highland High School student Sean Adkins was helping his friend change 
a flat tire in the emergency lane of a Salt Lake Interstate on March 1, 
1994, when a man with nine prior DUI convictions hit and killed Sean.
  The friends who were with Sean that night asked the investigating 
trooper, Jeff Peterson, what they could do to help combat drunken 
drivers. Jeff later discussed this conversation with his wife Suzanne. 
Wanting passionately to make a difference in the war against drunken 
drivers, Suzanne Peterson teamed up with her friend, Dr. Carol Clark 
who is executive director of the Utah Science Center Authority, to 
implement Freeway Watch.
  Freeway Watch has brought together many aspects of the business 
community, law enforcement agencies, and citizen organizations to 
promote public safety and help law enforcement function more 
efficiently at no additional taxpayer expense. KSL Radio and 
Television, US West Cellular, the Utah Highway Patrol, Middlekauff 
Lincoln Mercury, Les Olson & Co., the Alcohol Policy Coalition, and the 
Salt Lake County Chapter of MADD have all helped sponsor this program 
and make it a success.
  Mr. President, I bring this program to your attention because I 
believe that this is an excellent example of the private and public 
sector working together for the good of our community. It has always 
been my sincere belief that when a community bonds together, and works 
for the welfare of all, great things will be accomplished. Many local 
citizens have demonstrated hard work, initiative, and true community 
service, and I want to publicly recognize them and sincerely thank them 
for their exemplary efforts to make the roads in the great State of 
Utah a safer place for all.

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