Avoid Drunk Driving – Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

 

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a national drunk driving enforcement crackdown created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to combat drunk driving across the country. [1] This year, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over will go into effect August 21st until Labor Day on September 7th. [2] During this crackdown, state and local law enforcement will increase efforts to stop drunk drivers, and media will make efforts to raise public awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. [3]

Drunk driving accounts for approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States.[4]  Each year, summer holidays see increased crash fatalities due to drunk driving.[5]  Labor Day is a highly traveled holiday, with many people traveling to enjoy the end of the summer.  But in 2013, 986 people were killed in drunk driving accidents leading up to Labor Day weekend.[6]  This accounts for nearly 10% of the 10,000 people that are killed by drunk drivers each year.[7]

Avoid Drunk Driving

There are many ways to avoid drunk driving, and you should always have a plan to get home safely if you have been drinking.  Below are a number of ways to stay safe and avoid drunk driving.[8]

  • Make plans to get home or stay the night somewhere before you start drinking.
  • Choose a designated driver before drinking begins.
  • Call a taxi, a sober friend, or use a smartphone app to get a safe ride home.
  • Report drunk drivers on the road.
  • Do not let friends drink and drive. Help friends get home safely by calling a taxi or finding them another safe ride.

Conclusion

Drunk driving is a dangerous and serious crime, but it is also completely avoidable.  By planning ahead and being responsible, we can make a difference – one vehicle at a time.

For more information about Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.

About the Author: Edward Allen is a personal injury attorney at the Allen Law Firm, where he serves as the managing partner of the Fredericksburg office. He has more than 25 years of experience handling a variety of cases including car accidents, truck accidents, traumatic brain injuries, and premises liability. He has been named a Virginia Super Lawyer since 2011 and has been listed in Best Lawyers of America since 2010.


[1] http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/LaborDayWeekend.

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] See id.

[6] http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/LaborDay-PEAK.

[7] See id.

[8]http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/CAMPAIGNS/Drunk+Driving/Drive+Sober+or+Get+Pulled+Over/4th+of+July/2015+Fact+Sheet+Enforcement.