From August 14 through Labor Day on Sept. 2, the Maitland Police Department will join with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and local law enforcement agencies across the country 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.
In 2022, a total of 490 crash fatalities were reported on the nation’s roads. Of these, 39% involved a drunk driver, and a quarter involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration almost twice the legal limit.
Stay safe during this Labor Day holiday by planning ahead if you intend to drink. Don’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.
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.