Impaired Driving Enforcement Efforts Increase
Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which operates under the U.S. Department of Transportation, began its yearly Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The program will run through the Labor Day weekend. It is a high-visibility enforcement effort that targets impaired driving and seeks to improve safe travel for all road users.
A Multi-Agency Awareness Campaign
In addition to the Acting Administrator for NHTSA, Dr. Steven Cliff, representatives from a number of other safety organizations will help to spread awareness about the tragic consequences that can result from impaired driving. Steps are being taken across the United States to promote equity in traffic enforcement and to save lives. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Governors’ Highway Safety Association (GHSA) are two of the other participating organizations.
National Drunk Driving Statistics
According to data compiled by the NHTSA, in 2019, 10,142 people lost their lives in motor vehicle collisions that involved a driver impaired by alcohol. That same year, an estimated 13% of all deadly pedestrian crashes involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
Each year from 2015 to 2019, an average of more than 10,000 people were killed in drunk driving crashes. That amounts to one fatality every 52 minutes. All of us who use our nation’s roads are at risk.
What to Expect During the End of Summer Campaign
Motorists should expect to see an increased law enforcement presence on the roads as well as more signage and messaging during the period from August 18 through September 6, 2021. The program also includes a $12 million national media campaign that promotes several sobering messages:
- Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
- Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over
- If You Feel Different, You Drive Different
- Drive High, Get a DUI
Watch the YouTube videos. The public service messages created by the NHTSA and listed above can be viewed on YouTube. Below is one of them.
Make a Plan For a Safe Ride Home
The NHTSA has issued the following recommendations to prevent drunk driving:
- Always keep in mind that it is never okay to drive while impaired. Even one alcoholic drink can begin to affect your ability to drive safely.
- Make a plan in advance. If you are going out with the intention to drink alcohol, designate a trustworthy sober driver, use public transportation, or a ride-sharing service to get home safely.
- Research whether your community offers a sober ride program.
Drunk Driving Deaths are Entirely Preventable
The tragic loss of lives due to impaired driving is 100% preventable. Always make an advance plan for a sober ride home. Another way to help is if you witness an impaired driver on the road, report it to authorities by calling 911.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
Hello – and thank you for visiting our legal blog. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. When an alcohol- or drug-impaired driver causes an accident, injuries may occur. Impaired driving is just one example of negligent driving behavior. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries caused by a drunk driver, or an otherwise negligent motorist, our skilled injury lawyers can help. Call us to receive compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400. Should you be calling from outside of the local area code, please use the toll-free number that we provide: (800) 404-5400. If you prefer, you can also send your inquiry via our online contact form.
To ensure that you hire the right attorney for your important case, it pays to do research. We provide the links below so that you can read client reviews and see some of our results:
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