Both victims are expected to require long-term care to recover.

It is understood that the driver accused in the accident has a criminal record for drunk driving in the last 10 years.

What was unusual about the police’s press release was that they did not cite the typical statistics on impaired driving that show how many people have died or how many people have been admitted to the emergency room due to this irresponsible behavior.

They did not list possible penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (including jail time, large fines, legal fees and loss of licence) in an attempt to deter people from causing tragedies in the future.

They did not cite the state law requiring drivers to move into a far lane to make room for vehicles stopped on the side of the road.

This is all legitimate information to include in a press release about the types of accidents that occur all too frequently and are 100 percent preventable.

But police decided instead to focus on the next person who might get behind the wheel in an unstable physical condition, emphasizing “the importance of seeking treatment for substance or alcohol addiction,” police said in the press release.

The press release further encouraged people with addiction to get help by providing the toll-free, confidential HOPE line and website for the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support (OASAS) — 1-877-846-7369; https://oasas.ny.gov/treatment.

Strong penalties to deter drunk driving can be a deterrent. Statistics on the number of deaths and injuries can remind people of the scale of the problem. Reminding people of their obligation to pull over and avoid endangering officers, tow truck drivers, emergency workers, highway crews, and other motorists may compel someone to take that action.

But none of these traditional tactics address the underlying problem that often leads to such tragedies: addiction.

Reminding people addicted to alcohol or drugs that help is available to them may be another factor in preventing the next such accident.

This is a smart and enlightened approach to a widespread problem, and police should be commended for including it in their latest efforts to protect themselves and the public from dangers posed by impaired drivers.