The Mountain Home Police Department has announced it will participate in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign this Labor Day.
The nationwide impaired driving awareness campaign is currently underway and will continue through Monday, Sept. 6.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of 10,142 people were killed in 2019 in motor vehicles crashes that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2015 to 2019, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 52 minutes in 2019.
Through Labor Day, the Mountain Home Police Department and the NHTSA will be working together to remind drivers as they head out for Labor Day activities, motorists should remember to drive sober or get pulled over.
Lt. Bryan Corbett of the Mountain Home Police Department says, “We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking. We need commitment from our community members that they’ll keep the streets free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday. Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this senseless behavior.”
The Mountain Home Police Department recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
– Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you have had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use a ride service to get home safely.
– If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911.
– Take the car keys away from a friend who is about to drink and drive and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
For more information on impaired driving, visit nhtsa.gov.
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