HPD on lookout for buzzed drivers

HOPE— The 4th of July is a time for national celebration, full of backyard cookouts, pool parties, and fireworks. The buzz of a drink is not needed to feel the thrill of the summer holiday festivities. But if you or someone you know decides to drink and is impaired by alcohol, it is not safe to drive a vehicle. This Independence Day, Hope Police Department and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urge drivers to share the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. 

In 2021, 212 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes over the 4th of July holiday period. That’s 212 people who started the day with party plans and ended the day with permanent, unforgettable tragedy. 

According to NHTSA, 13,384 motor vehicle crash-related deaths in 2021 involved alcohol-impaired drivers. This represented 31% of all traffic fatalities in the United States for the year, and a 14.2% increase from 2020. That same year, 538 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the July 4th holiday alone (6 p.m. July 2 to 5:59 a.m. July 6). Thirty-nine percent (212) of those fatalities occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. With many Fourth of July festivities wrapping up in the evening or late at night, more cars are on the roads at night. Over the 2021 July 4th holiday period, of the 212 people who died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes, 82% of those fatalities occurred in nighttime crashes (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.).

If you have to ask yourself if you’re safe to drive, the chances are low that you actually are. If you feel buzzed, you don’t belong behind the wheel of a vehicle. For some people, even one drink is too many to safely drive. If your plans include alcohol, make sure you have a sober driver on call to help you get home safely. Stay safe for the people in your life — loved ones, parents or children, and your buddies. Drive sober to protect them and to protect yourself.

“We want our community to enjoy the July 4th holiday, and we want our community to celebrate responsibly,” said Chief Tomlin. “We’re partnering with NHTSA to share the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. It is never okay to drink and drive — even after just a few drinks. There are so many options for a sober ride these days. So, plan ahead — if you’ll be drinking this 4th of July, or any other day, arrange for a sober ride.”