Area Law Enforcement Joins National Crackdown to Reduce Drunk Driving Fatalities

KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwired - Aug 28, 2013) - From now through Labor Day, local police will be out in force as part of the annual nationwide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown on drunk driving. The crackdown, which includes high-visibility enforcement throughout the five-state region (Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Arkansas), will continue through September 2, 2013.

"Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" is an effective nationwide drunk driving crackdown that includes high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and is supported by national paid advertising. The activities combine to create a comprehensive campaign to curb drunk driving.

Local law enforcement officers will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving drunk.

Although it is illegal in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive drunk (having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), far too many people across the nation get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol. The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the serious nature of the nation's continuing drunk driving epidemic.

Every year, about one third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths involve one or more drunk drivers or motorcycle operators. In 2011 9,878 people died in crashes involving drunk drivers. That works out to approximately one drunk driving fatality every 53 minutes.

Holidays are particularly dangerous

During the Labor Day weekend in 2011, a total of 138 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drivers or motorcycle riders with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher. Of those fatalities, 83 percent occurred during early evening and overnight, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. 

Drunk driving takes a heavy toll among young drivers. Among 18- to 34-year-old drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the 2011 Labor Day weekend, 42 percent were alcohol-impaired.

Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign reduces drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.

Area law enforcement notes that being arrested for driving drunk brings a wide range of negative consequences into one's life. Drunk drivers face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment.

Driving drunk is simply not worth the risk. So don't take the chance.

For more information, visit the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaign Headquarters at www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.