Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign is Launched to Combat DUIs

Drunk drivers have been hit by years of enforcement and safety campaigns. Although fewer accidents are caused by drunk drivers now than two decades ago, alcohol remains a major cause of injuries and deaths on the roads of Virginia and beyond.

Recently the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. It’s a national initiative intended to combat drunk driving across the country.

This year’s campaign went into effect on August 21. It will last until Labor Day on September 7th.

Over the course of the campaign, state and local law enforcement will increase efforts to stop drunk drivers, and the media will raise public awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.

Drunk driving accounts for about a third of all fatal traffic accidents in the United States. Every year there are over 1 million arrests each year for DUI nationally. Even if a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below the legal limit (0.08 percent in Virginia), his or her ability to drive a car safely may still be impaired due to alcohol.

Drunk driving typically spikes during the summer months and holidays are a particular problem. In 2013, 986 people were killed in drunk driving accidents leading up to Labor Day weekend.

How You Can Avoid Drunk Driving

Sometimes people who have been drinking alcohol can end up behind the wheel due to bad planning. There are a number of things you can do to protect others and yourself including:

• Make plans to get back home or stay overnight somewhere before you start drinking.
• Choose a designated driver before you start consuming alcohol.
• Report drunk drivers or people who you see driving erratically on the road.
• Call a taxi, a sober friend, or use an app to get a safe ride home.
• Stop friends who have been drinking alcohol from getting in their cars.

If you drive drunk you may put your welfare and the safety of others at risk. You may lose your career and life prospects due to a moment of madness. If you want to find out more see our questions and answers about drunk driving in Virginia.

If you or a loved one has been hit and hurt by a drunk driver, you should consider calling us at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at 757.455.0077. When it really counts, count on Cooper Hurley.