You may still be making plans for your Labor Day holiday this year, but it’s already started for law enforcement here in our part of the country.
Working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), local and state law enforcement are already on our roads and highways, on the lookout for drivers under the influence.
The “Labor Day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign begin last Friday, in fact, in both Indiana and Illinois. It continues through midnight on the Labor Day Holiday weekend.
“Drunk driving is a deadly and preventable crime that destroys lives and costs the nation billions of dollars every year,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “With the help of law enforcement around the country, we are going to continue doing all that we can to stop drunk driving and the needless tragedies that result from this reckless behavior.”
According to NHTSA, over 10,000 people die each year in drunk driving accidents. Over a third of these deaths (35%) involve passengers, occupants of other vehicles, or non-occupants.
“The costs of drunk driving — in lives and economic harm — are far too high for anyone to ever get behind the wheel after they’ve been drinking,” said NHTSA’s Administrator David Friedman. “Do not make one of the last wonderful days of summer the final tragic day of your life – or someone else’s – by driving after drinking. Remember to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
Safety Tips from Indiana’s Criminal Justice Institute for Labor Day 2014
Here are some things to consider as you plan your holiday fun, tips compiled by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for all of us:
- Plan a safe way home before you start the Labor Day festivities;
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
- If you’re drunk, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
- Use your community’s sober ride program.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement immediately.
- If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while drunk, be a friend and take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
- Remember, driving drunk is simply not worth the risk. So don’t take the chance. Law enforcement will be out in force and will be watching, so Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
