The intensified enforcement campaign coincides with the Labor Day holiday weekend, which is one of the deadliest times of the year for drunk-driving fatalities. According to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,497 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during 2016. Statistically, that means one person is killed every 50 minutes by a drunk driver on our nation’s roads. Over the Labor Day holiday period in 2016 there were 433 traffic crash fatalities nationwide. Of the fatal crashes, more than one-third (36 percent) involved drivers who were drunk.
“We need motorists to understand that they must make the smart decision to drive sober – Labor Day and every day,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “Drunk driving is a crime that is totally preventable.”
As you head out to Labor Day festivities, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office recommends the following:
– Always plan ahead whenever you expect to drive and consume alcohol.
For more information on the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, visit TrafficSafetyMarketing.