From August 16 through September 2, which includes the Labor Day holiday weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be teaming up with Arkansas law enforcement for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign. The goal is to deter impaired driving and prevent the tragedies seen in previous Labor Day weekends from happening again.
During the 2022 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. September 2 TO 5:59 a.m. September 6), there were 490 traffic crash fatalities nationwide. Of these 490 traffic fatalities, 39% (190) involved a drunk driver, and a quarter (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday in 2022, 47% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.
“Our first priority is to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “Drunk driving is illegal, and it takes lives. Help us protect our state and put an end to this senseless behavior.”
Drivers should be safe during this Labor Day holiday by planning ahead if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get home. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive and help them get a sober ride home.
The Arkansas Highway Safety Office recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
— Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
— If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 9-1-1.
— If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.
— Always buckle up. Your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136, and go to https://www.tzdarkansas.org/ to learn about Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities.
