As part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization taking place through Dec. 31, BNPD will be participating in an upcoming sobriety checkpoint. A partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” places an emphasis on removing impaired drivers from the roadways.
BNPD Sergeant Clayton Bloch said the checkpoint will be within the time frame of the current mobilization, but for obvious reasons, specifics of the campaign will remain unannounced.
“The main thing we want the public to know is that these campaigns and checkpoints are not designed in a spirit of issuing citations or putting people in jail. We genuinely care about the safety and wellbeing of the citizens of our community, and this is one more way we can protect them.”
According to NHTSA, 10,874 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2017, equating to one person killed every 48 minutes. On average, 10,000 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes each year from 2013 to 2017—the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing each year with no survivors. In December 2017 alone, 885 people lost their lies in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver. Statistics show that drug-impaired driving is also an increasing problem on our nation’s roads.
“Driving while impaired by any substance will result in consequences- plain and simple,” said Bloch.
BNPD is emphasizing the need to secure a sober way home from your festivities by planning ahead with the following tips in mind:
- Remember it’s never okay to drive impaired. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or ride service to get home safely.
- Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, available on Google Play and iTunes, which allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend, and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911.
- Take the keys away from a friend who is about to drive impaired and make arrangements to get them home safely.
“We understand that during the holidays, people are running around busily checking off items on their
to-do lists and attending parties. We need our community members to slow down and remember It’s up to them to make the decision to drive sober during the holidays and beyond. “
For more information about the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign and impaired driving, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.
