Through Sept. 2, including the Labor Day holiday weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 7, is working alongside local law enforcement for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign, which began Aug. 16.
The designated region includes Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
The goal, say officials, is to deter impaired driving, arrest impaired drivers detected on the roads and prevent the tragedies seen in previous Labor Day weekends from happening again. NHTSA wants to remind drivers that in all 50 states that it is illegal to drive while impaired by any substance, including drugs.
During the 2022 Labor Day holiday — from 6 p.m. Sept. 2 to 5:59 a.m. Sept. 6 — there were 490 crash fatalities nationwide, say officials. Of these 490 traffic crash fatalities, 39% (190) involved a drunk driver, and a quarter involved drivers who were driving with a blood alcohol content 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, officials point out.
Many people believe that being high doesn’t affect driving abilities, but they are wrong. It has been proven that marijuana, like other drugs, can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan for a sober ride if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said NHTSA Regional Administrator Susan DeCourcy. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to help drivers understand that impaired driving is illegal, and it takes lives. This partnership between law enforcement and drivers has an important purpose: Helping us protect the community and putting an end to this senseless behavior.”
Drivers can ensure safety for themselves and passengers during the upcoming Labor Day holiday by planning for a sober driver 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, call a taxi or use a rideshare app 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 — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.