U.S. DOT Launches Anti Impaired Driving Holiday Campaign

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued a press release about kicking off their annual holiday impaired driving campaigns. This year, they are running three different anti-impaired driving high-visibility enforcement campaigns.  

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is focused on the repercussions of getting pulled over for drunk driving. The “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different” campaign is all about raising awareness about the various substances that can lead to impaired driving. Finally, the “Drive High, Get a DUI” campaign is letting people know that driving under the influence of drugs can also result in a DUI arrest.  

Drunk Driving Crashes in The U.S.  

According to the NHTSA, there were 10,142 people killed in crashes in 2019 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. Of those fatalities, 68 percent were in crashes where at least one driver had a BAC of .15 or higher. They also found that nighttime is an especially dangerous time to be on the roadways. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2019 was 3.3 times higher at night than during the day.  

The holiday-themed campaigns will be running from December 17, 2021, through January 1, 2022. National, state and local public safety and law enforcement agencies across the nation will be participating in these high-visibility enforcement campaigns. Additionally, groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Governors’ Highway Safety Association (GHSA) will also be participating in raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving this holiday season.  

Keeping Roads Safe This Holiday Season  

Keeping roads safe this holiday season and throughout the year is everybody’s responsibility. If you plan to celebrate with alcohol, don’t get behind the wheel. It’s not worth risking your life or the lives of others. Furthermore, If you’re taking any kind of substance, whether legally prescribed, illegal or over the counter that impacts your wakefulness or cognition, do not get behind the wheel.  

The team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. wishes everybody a safe and happy holiday season, and if you have been injured in a car accident caused by a drunk or drugged driver in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California, contact our office at 1.800.GO.HARRIS for a free case consultation today.