Drunk driving is 100-percent preventable. Don’t make the choice to put yourself and others at risk.
Enforcement August 16 – September 2, 2019
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is joining forces with law enforcement nationwide during the 2019 Labor Day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign, which runs from August 14 through September 2, 2019. The enforcement campaign coincides with the 2019 Labor Day holiday weekend, which is one of the deadliest times of the year in terms of drunk-driving fatalities. Labor Day proves to be an especially dangerous time on the roads, as people are enjoying those last summer parties and, sadly, making the deadly decision to drive after drinking.
Drunk driving isn’t the only risk on the road: Among several others, drug-impaired driving is an increasing problem on America’s roads. If drivers are impaired by any substance—alcohol or drugs—they should not get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Driving while impaired is illegal, period. The Governors Highway Safety Association found that 43.6% of fatally injured drivers in 2016 tested positive for drugs and over half of those drivers were positive for two or more drugs.
Nationally, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Yet in 2017, one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred every 48 minutes. In the month of August, over the five-year period from 2013-2017, almost 10 percent of drunk drivers in fatal crashes had one or more previous convictions for impaired driving. The decision to not drink and drive should never be a tough one. Alcohol consumption lowers inhibitions, causing you to make bad decisions you would not otherwise make. Do not trust yourself when you drink.
Things to remember about driving while impaired:
- On average, a DUI can set you back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and repairs, and more.
- If you’re caught drinking and driving, you could face jail time
- Drinking and driving could cause you to lose your driver’s license and your vehicle.
- Having a DUI violation, will prevent you from being approved to operate any vehicle insured under our insurance program.
While you may never drink and drive the above reminder is important to you as well. The statics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that nearly 30 people a day in the US lose their lives in drunk driving crashes. This number does not include fatalities linked to drug-impaired driving. Impaired drivers put you and your drivers at risk. Below are a few tips which may help protect your and your drivers from impaired drivers.
Things to remember about impaired drivers:
- Do not stay in their lane- they swerve because they are unable to focus
- Hug the Center Line-in an attempt to avoid swerving and veering off the road
- Hit Objects Near the Road- blurred vision can cause drivers to collide with mailboxes, poles and other objects.
- Make wide turns – overdoing basic maneuvers is common among impaired drivers because they have trouble judging distance.
- Drive under the speed limit – impaired drivers will try to remain undetected by police, which leads to trying to be extra cautious.
- Tailgating – in an attempt to drive straight, impaired drivers, mimic the car ahead, which can result in tailgating
- Excessive Braking – with limited ability to focus and react, impaired motorist may constantly hit the brakes.
- Not Using Headlights- alcohol makes people forgetful.
- Inappropriate Signaling – impaired drivers get easily confused
- Stopping for no Reason –
Here’s what to do and what not to do, if you encounter an impaired driver on the road:
- Stay far away from the vehicle
- Never attempt to stop an impaired driver
- Do not try to pass the vehicle
- Make sure your seat belt is buckled
- Pull over and Call 911
We hope these reminders will help keep you and your drivers safe while on the road during the upcoming Labor Day Weekend and throughout the rest of the year.
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