(COLUMBIA, MO) -
‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' Campaign Will Target Substance-Impaired Drivers.'
The Columbia Police Department will be out in full force as part of the annual nationwide Fourth (4th) of July Holiday "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" substance-impaired driving crackdown. The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout the City of Columbia, will run from June 30-July 4, 2017.
The effective nationwide substance-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 substance-impaired driving over the Fourth (4th) of July Holiday. Columbia Police Officers will be aggressively looking for substance-impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.
Although it is illegal in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive impaired (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. Not only are alcohol impaired drivers a threat to others, new statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate drugged driving has now surpassed drunk driving in fatal crashes. NHTSA's research shows in 2015, drugs were present in 43% of the fatally-injured drivers more frequently than alcohol was present.
"Every year, about one third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths involve one or more substance - impaired drivers or motorcycle operators," said Lt Jason Jones. "In 2016, 233 people were killed and 700 seriously injured on Missouri's roadways in crashes that involved at least one substance-impaired driver." That works out to approximately one substance-impaired driver involved fatality every 1-3/4 days.
"Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign reduces substance-impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make Columbia's roadways safer for everyone throughout the holiday," said Lt. Jason Jones.
"We want to remind everyone that getting behind the wheel impaired is a terrible idea. Unfortunately, not only does being under the influence impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely, it also impairs your judgment and good sense about whether you can, or should, drive. If you have any doubt about your sobriety, do not get behind the wheel. If you do chose to drive impaired, you will be arrested," Lt. Jason Jones said.
Lt. Jason Jones noted that being arrested for driving under the influence of any substance brings a wide range of negative consequences into one's life. Substance-impaired 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.
"Driving while impaired is simply not worth the risk. So don't take the chance, "said Lt. Jason Jones.
For more information, visit the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaign Headquarters at www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov, or www.saveMOlives.com.
51°F