The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS), Kentucky State Police (KSP), and other law enforcement agencies are combining forces to promote the holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
The campaign started on December 9 and will run through January 1, 2020. It is funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which says that high-visibility enforcement reduces impaired driving casualties by as much as 20 percent.
KOHS Executive Director Dr. Noelle Hunter said that the problem during the holiday season happens when motorists get behind the wheel after drinking. It is very common that many of the celebrations spent with friends and family during this time include alcohol.
Hunter added that they placed images of Santa with the slogan “He sees you when you’re drinking” at gas stations, bars, and restaurants in 60 cities throughout Kentucky. Mirror clings of jail bars are likewise found in different bars and restaurants to reflect potential offenders their arrested image behind bars.
Meanwhile, Trooper David Jones of KSP, Post 6 revealed that they will have extra officers on the road as motorists travel to and from their Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. He warned that if one is caught driving while impaired, he will be arrested; urging everyone to plan for a designated driver.
Statistics
- Over the past five years, there have been 22 drunk driving fatalities in Kentucky.
- In 2015, over 5,900 crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs in the state resulted in more than 3,100 injuries and 162 fatalities.
- During the same year, more than 550 of those crashes happened in December, resulting in 282 injuries and 20 deaths.
- An average of 343 and 373 people die in traffic deaths each year during the three-day Christmas holiday period and three-day New Year holiday respectively.
Be Safe and Sober This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a good time to celebrate with our family, friends, and loved ones. As we eat delicious meals and drink alcohol or sparkling wines, remember to never put yourself and others in danger by driving while drunk or impaired. We should spend this important occasion in our homes, not in emergency rooms.
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I commend KOHS, KSP, and other agencies in enforcing this campaign. I also encourage every Kentucky motorist to join and celebrate safely the holiday season by driving alert and sober. Don’t become a holiday statistic.