Ahead of one of the busiest and deadliest holiday travel seasons due to accidents caused by drunk driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching its annual nationwide Labor Day campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
From August 16 through September 2, the Union County Safe Communities coalition is working with NHTSA alongside local law enforcement on the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over public awareness campaign. In addition to the efforts of local law enforcement agencies across the United States, NHTSA has invested $15 million in the national media campaign to deter drunk driving and prevent a repeat of the tragedies of past Labor Day weekends.
During Labor Day 2022 (September 2, 6:00 p.m. – September 6, 5:59 a.m.), there were 490 traffic fatalities nationwide. Of those 490 traffic fatalities, 39% (190) were drunk drivers and a quarter (25%) were drivers driving with a blood alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit (0.15+ BAC). Among drivers ages 18-34 who died in crashes during Labor Day 2022, 47% of those drivers were drunk and had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more.
The national mobilization is urging drivers to act responsibly and arrange a safe ride home if they plan to drink alcohol or use impairing substances, including marijuana. Don’t wait until you’ve been drinking to plan how you’ll get home. Impairment clouds judgment. Arrange for a designated sober driver, or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts you and everyone else on the road at risk. Even one drink can impair your ability to drive, and if you choose to drive anyway, the consequences can be deadly,” said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA’s deputy commissioner. “That’s why we remind everyone to avoid taking risks and always drive home safely, especially if you plan to celebrate this upcoming Labor Day weekend.”
If a driver realizes they are no longer able to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that they can get them home safely. If a friend has been drinking and is considering driving themselves, friends should be proactive – take the keys away and help them drive home sober. If anyone notices a drunk driver, contact local police.
Recent NHTSA data shows that traffic fatalities caused by drunk drivers accounted for 32% of all traffic fatalities in 2022, and more than a third (40%) of U.S. states are above this national average.
While the number of road deaths in drink-driving crashes decreased by 0.7% – from 13,617 to 13,524 deaths from 2021 to 2022 – there was still, on average, a drink-driving death every 39 minutes. Drink-driving puts everyone on our roads at risk, and preventing drink-driving
Driving is a priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation, which addresses drunk driving and other risky driving behaviors through its National Roadway Safety Strategy and Safe Systems approach.
For more information about driving under the influence, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
