Opinion

Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. National Labor Day Enforcement Crackdown

Drunken driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. Across the United States, 13,470 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in 2006. That was 32 percent – nearly one-third – of total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the nation.

Of those 13,470 fatalities, 8,615 – nearly two of every three – were drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

Kentucky recorded more than 6,300 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 205 deaths and nearly 2,500 injuries, in 2007. But Kentucky seems to be making some progress. The number of deaths resulting from alcohol-related crashes in Kentucky has slightly decreased each year since 2004. We attribute this to enforcement campaigns, as well as our Drive Smart Kentucky educational programs.

That’s why local law enforcement officials will be joining with thousands of other law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation through the Labor Day holiday to launch an aggressive crackdown on impaired drivers called: Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

Our message is simple: No matter what you drive – car, truck, SUV or motorcycle – if you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested. No exceptions. No excuses. Officers will be out in force conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and using undercover officers to get more drunken drivers off the road.

We want everyone to play it safe. Much of the tragedy from drunken driving can be prevented with a few simple precautions:

· Whenever you plan on consuming alcohol, designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.

· If impaired, call a taxi or a sober friend or family member to take you home.

· Use a Sober Rides program if your community has one.

· Promptly alert law enforcement when you see a drunken driver on the road.

· Wear a safety belt in a car and use a helmet and protective gear on a motorcycle. They are your best defenses against an impaired driver.

· And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take the keys and help make other travel arrangements.

Drunken driving is simply not worth the risk of killing yourself or someone else. And the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant. Violators often face jail time, loss of driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work, and dozens of other expenses.

Don’t take the chance. Drunken driving is a serious crime. Remember: Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

For more information, visit www.highwaysafety.ky.gov.

Chuck Geveden, Executive Director
Office of Highway Safety
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet