‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ this holiday season

‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ this holiday season

ASP Highway Safety Office – Ann Whitehead LITTLE ROCK – State and local law enforcement officers are increasing their patrol activity aimed at impaired drivers. Arkansas State Troopers, along with city and county agencies, have joined in the national “Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over” enforcement mobilization. The special enforcement operation will continue through Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017.

As the holiday celebrations begin, far too many individuals will be tempted to drive a vehicle after consuming alcohol. The results typically end in tragedy, if not deadly, consequences.

Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during calendar year 2015 indicate that across the U.S. there were 35,092 people killed in motor vehicle crashes. More than 10,000 of those people, 29%, lost their lives in the crashes involving drivers with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of .08% or greater. In Arkansas, during the same reporting period, there were 531 roadway fatalities and 148 (28%) of the deaths were alcohol related.

NHTSA also reports that from 2011 to 2015, 14,034 people lost their lives in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the month of December, and 28 percent of those died in a crash that involved a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher.

“This is a wonderful time of the year and we intend to do whatever we can to keep the highways and roads safe,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “If you choose to drive drunk, not only will you risk your own safety and the safety of others, but you risk long lasting legal consequences.”

From Ann Whitehead