The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started the campaign “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” to prevent drunk driving. One person is killed about every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, totaling more than 13,000 lives lost each year.

Drivers are making riskier decisions when they're behind the wheel. In 2020, 11,654 people died in drunk-driving crashes — a 14% increase from 2019.

During the Labor Day holiday period, we typically see an increase in drunk-driving deaths — and that's why you'll likely see more law enforcement on the roads. There were 530 traffic crash deaths during Labor Day weekend in 2020. 46% of these crashes involved drivers who had been drinking, while 38% involved a drunk driver.

As a response to this, the National “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs from August 17-September 5, aims to educate people about the dangers and consequences of driving drunk.

The effects of alcohol:

• Blood alcohol concentration of .02 – Decline in visual functions, decline in ability to perform two tasks at the same time
• Blood alcohol concentration of .05 – Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations
• Blood alcohol concentration of .08 – Reduced concentration, short term memory loss, lack of speed control, reduced information processing capability, impaired perception
• Blood alcohol concentration of .10 – Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately
• Blood alcohol concentration of .15 – Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing

Have a plan whether you're driving, riding, or hosting:

• Before drinking, plan a safe and sober ride home
• Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they've been drinking
• If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home
• If you see an impaired driver, call 911. And always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers

To learn more, visit: https://www.nhtsa.gov/camp.../drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over

Credit: United States Department of Transportation

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