The University of Central Arkansas Police Department is joining with law enforcement throughout the nation for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign August 15 to September 1, 2014.
The strong nationwide impaired driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb alcohol impaired driving in August and through the Labor Day holiday weekend.
We will be aggressively looking for impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.
It is illegal in Arkansas to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter. Despite these laws, each year more than 10,000 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was impaired.
UCA PD recommends these simple tips for a safe Labor Day weekend:
- Plan a safe way home before the fun begins;
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
- If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
- If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact law enforcement;
- And remember, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
Here are some SOBERING Facts:
- On Labor Day Weekend in 2012, almost four in ten fatal crashes involved a drunk driver.
- Each year on average, more than 10,000 people die on our roadways as a result of drunk driving. That would equal 20 jumbo jets crashing each year.
- An average of one drunk driving fatality occurred every 51 minutes in 2012.
- In 2012, three out of four of those arrested for driving under the influence were mail.
- Nearly two out of three fatal crashes between midnight and 3:00 a.m. involved a drunk driver.
- In the last five years, over 750 people have been killed in drunk driving crashes during Labor Day weekend.
The end of summer should not mean the end of your life.
For more information, visit the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign Headquarters at www.nhtsa.gov/drivesober.