The Marshalltown Police Department joins the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) and NHTSA in working alongside local law enforcement for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign. The goal is to deter impaired driving and prevent the tragedies seen during previous Labor Day weekends.
NHTSA reports that during the 2022 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. September 2-5:59 a.m. September 6), there were 490 crash fatalities nationwide. Of these 490 traffic crash fatalities, 39% (190) involved a drunk driver, and a quarter (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit. 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.
“Driving while impaired, whether from alcohol or drugs, endangers you and everyone else on the road. Even one drink can affect your driving ability and, if you choose to drive, the consequences can be deadly,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. “That’s why we’re reminding everyone to avoid the risk and always make sure you have a safe ride home, especially if you’re planning to celebrate during the upcoming Labor Day weekend.”
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.
NHTSA data shows that alcohol-impaired-driving traffic fatalities comprised 32% of all traffic fatalities in 2022. While traffic fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes decreased nationally by 0.7% — from 13,617 to 13,524 fatalities from 2021 to 2022 — one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality still occurred on average every 39 minutes. Impaired driving puts everyone on our roads at risk, and preventing impaired driving is a public safety priority.
The Cost of Drunk Driving
- The average OWI costs $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, and more.
- The financial impact from impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Based on 2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $123.3 billion annually.
- If you’re caught drinking and driving, you can face jail time. That arrest will follow you for many years to come.
- Drinking and driving can cause you to lose your driver’s license and your vehicle. This could prevent you from getting to work, resulting in lost wages and, potentially, job loss.
Plan Ahead for a Safe Celebration
- Always drive 100% sober. Even one alcoholic beverage could be one too many.
- Plan ahead: Before you have even one drink, designate a sober driver to get you home safely. If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make this decision, you might not make the best one.
- You have options to get home safely: designate a sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare. Getting home safely is always worth it.
- If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously and don’t drink.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact law enforcement.
- If you have a friend who is about to drink and drive, take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.
For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-launches-labor-day-drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over-campaign-1.
AUTHORITY: Police Chief Michael Tupper by calling 641.754.5771 or via email at mtupper@marshalltown-ia.gov.