This Labor Day weekend, the Johnson County Law Enforcement Coalition will be working to decrease impaired driving through the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.
Until Sept. 5, local law enforcement is participating in the high-visibility enforcement campaign. The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), according to a Johnson County Sheriff’s Office news release.
About 37 people die in the United States in drunk driving crashes every day. That’s approximately one person every 39 minutes and more than 13,384 annually, according to the NHTSA.
Of the 949 traffic fatalities that occurred last year in Indiana, 110, or 12%, were alcohol-related. While that is a decline from 115 in 2021, there is still a long way to go, the news release says.
Because of this, the Johnson County Law Enforcement Coalition is working with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, it’s a matter of life and death. As residents head out to festivities during the end of summer and Labor Day weekend, they should remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
During the campaign, residents will see more officers patrolling with an eye to get drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol off the roads, the news release says.
“We want our community members to know that we are committed to keeping them safe. That’s why we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking. Don’t drink and drive. It’s illegal, it’s dangerous and it can ruin lives,” said Sheriff Duane Burgess. “… We need your help to make our community a safer place. If you see someone who is driving drunk, call 911. Together, we can put an end to this senseless behavior.”
