Labor Day weekend is almost upon us if you can believe it. That means it's time for the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Labor Day high-visibility enforcement campaign.
The campaign, already underway, is designed to prevent impaired driving and improve safety for everyone on the road. The initiative kicked off August 18th and runs through September 6, 2021.
NHTSA Acting Administrator Dr. Steven Cliff launched this year's campaign accompanied by representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Governors’ Highway Safety Association (GHSA), Carolinas Medical Center, and the Tempe, Arizona, Police Department.
“Driving impaired, whether under the influence of alcohol or drugs, has devastating consequences and is illegal in every state. Not only do you put yourself at risk, but the lives of others as well,” said Cliff. “The tragic loss of life is 100% preventable. Instead of driving under the influence, plan for a sober ride home.”
National Stats
According to NHTSA data, 10,142 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2019 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2015 to 2019. That is one life lost every 52 minutes. All road users are at risk. In 2019, an estimated 13 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes involved a drunk driver. The NHTSA also reports that when it looked at alcohol-impaired drivers involved in deadly crashes in 2019, the largest percentage -29 percent – were motorcycle operators.
Texas Stats
2020 stats from the Texas Department of Transportation show that there were 958 people killed in alcohol-related crashes last year, which is 25% of the total number of people killed in 2020. TXDOT also reports that during 2020, more DUI - Alcohol crashes were reported in the hour between 2:00 am and 2:59 am than any other hour of the day. Also, more of these crashes occurred on Saturday than any other day of the week.
California Stats
The California DMV reports that alcohol-impaired driving fatalities decreased 4.5% from 1,116 in 2018 to 1,066 in 2019.
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign
The initiative is supported by a $12 million national paid media campaign that includes a number of sobering public service messages: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over; If You Feel Different, You Drive Different; Drive High, Get a DUI; and Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over. View the ads here: Ride Sober, Drive Sober, Feel Different.
NHTSA provides these recommendations to prevent impaired driving:
- Remember that it is never okay to drive impaired.
- Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver, plan to use public transportation, or use a ride service to go out and get back home safely. Even one drink can begin to impair your driving ability.
- If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact 911.