Impaired driving enforcement campaign continues thru holiday weekend
During the busy Labor Day holiday period and the end of summer, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety is working alongside the law enforcement community to decrease impaired driving.
State and local law enforcement began participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement period Aug. 16. Officers are working together to get drunk drivers off Delaware roadways, and high-visibility enforcement will continue through Monday, Sept. 2. Whatever people’s plans are to celebrate the end of summer, they should make sure to do them safely.
Delaware law enforcement will also participate in the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Saturation Saturday initiative Aug. 24. This is a coordinated effort with staff, volunteers and law enforcement focused on saving lives by intensifying enforcement during one of the nation's busiest time frames for travel.
“Saturation Saturday is an opportunity to team up with law enforcement and amplify the message that if you choose to drive impaired, you will get caught,” said Bryna Clark-Braverman, Mothers Against Drunk Driving mid-Atlantic regional executive director. “MADD Delaware urges the public to plan ahead for a safe ride home over the Labor Day weekend by choosing a rideshare service, designating a non-drinking sober driver or using public transportation.”
Nationally, during the 2022 Labor Day holiday (Sept. 2 to 6), there were 490 crash fatalities in the country. Of those, 39% involved a drunk driver, and 25% involved drivers with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Although it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol, one person was killed on the nation’s roads every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In Delaware, the number of DUI crash fatalities has been decreasing in recent years. While this may seem positive, it's important to emphasize that the only acceptable number of DUI-related fatalities is zero. There were 66 DUI arrests made during the 2023 Labor Day holiday weekend. Most of the DUI crashes occurred in Sussex County (50%), followed by New Castle County (31%) and Kent County (19%). Data shows males are more likely to be involved in a DUI-related crash and were represented in 81% of those crashes statewide.
“The biggest issue with impaired driving is that people know what the consequences are but still choose to drive after drinking,” said Sharon Bryson, Delaware Office of Highway Safety director. “The outcome of a DUI can have long-term effects including financial burdens, obtaining a criminal record, and/or changes to the overall welfare of an individual and loved ones due to serious injury and/or loss of life. Driving under the influence is never acceptable, especially when there are so many options to get home safely.”
On average, a DUI can set an individual back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates and more. People who are caught drinking and driving can face jail time, and have to explain that to friends and family or their employer. Drinking and driving can cause people to lose their driver’s licenses and their vehicles. This could keep them from getting to work, resulting in lost wages and potential job loss. Individuals and family members could incur medical bills from hospital expenses or long-term care costs.
Drinking and driving don’t mix. People should always make a plan before going out. There are plenty of options to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver, using public transportation, or calling a taxi or ride-share service. No one is immune to the effects of drinking. Getting behind the wheel after even one alcoholic beverage can cause a traumatic crash that could cost that person, a loved one, or a total stranger to suffer serious injuries or even death.
For more information, go to arrivealivede.com/drive-sober.
