The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is again participating in the holiday season Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic safety enforcement campaign.
“Beginning December 16th and continuing into 2017, motorists will see increased traffic safety enforcement. Deputies will focus on those driving impaired, distracted, or without a seat belt,” said Sheriff Mark Curran. “We will have zero tolerance for drunk and drug-impaired driving this holiday season.”
Too often, drivers take to the roads after drinking at holiday celebrations. Data shows the decision to drive while impaired can have serious, and all too often deadly consequences. In 2015, 35,092 people in the United States were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and 29 percent (10,265) of those who died, were killed in crashes where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the limit of .08.
“The holiday season is supposed to be the ‘most wonderful time of the year,’ so we are doing our part to help save lives by keeping our roads safe,” Undersheriff Ray Rose said. “If you choose to drive impaired, you not only risk your safety and that of others, but you will also face serious legal consequences.”
Drunk or drug-impaired driving offenders often serve jail time, lose their driver’s license, are charged higher insurance rates, and pay dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, vehicle towing, and lost wages due to time off work. But the ultimate cost of impaired driving is causing a traffic crash which results in injury or death.
Please follow these tips to stay safe on the road this holiday season:
- If you will be drinking, plan on not driving. Arrange for a safe ride home or designate a sober driver before you consume alcohol.
- If you become impaired, do not drive for any reason. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
- If someone you know has been drinking, do not let them get behind the wheel. Take their keys, take them home, or help them arrange a safe way home.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement by dialing 9-1-1. Your actions could help save someone’s life.
- Buckle your seat belt, regardless of where you are seated. By law, all occupants, in all seating positions, must wear their seat belt.