HPD: Drive sober or get pulled over

By submitted, 08/31/17 3:56 PM

drive sober or get pulled over

HOPE – Hope Police Department is ramping up its enforcement efforts as part of a national crackdown on drunk driving.

This high-visibility campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, is a partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to curb impaired driving and save lives. August 18 – September 4 (Labor Day), law enforcement partners nationwide will show zero tolerance for drunk driving. Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of driving drunk, coupled with increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce the toll of drunk driving.

According to NHTSA, on average, more than 10,000 people died each year (2010 to 2014) in drunken driving crashes.  During the 2014 Labor Day holiday weekend, 40 percent of crash fatalities involved motor vehicle drivers or motorcycle operators who were legally impaired with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of .08 or higher, resulting in 162 deaths.

“Too many people think their actions don’t affect anybody else,” said Assistant Chief Tomlin. “They know it’s illegal. They know it’s wrong. But they do it anyway – they make decisions as if those statistics just can’t happen to them.”

In every state, it’s illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. Tomlin wants to remind Hope, Arkansas drivers it’s not a recommendation; it’s the law. And during the enforcement period starting August 19, there will be a special emphasis on drunk-driving enforcement. Local drivers should expect to see more patrol vehicles. “The number of people who are still drinking and driving is unacceptable,” said Tomlin. “Yes, we want to increase awareness for the campaign, but we want the effects to be permanent.”

Tomlin emphasized the preventable nature of drunk driving: “All it takes is a little planning ahead. Designate a sober driver or call a cab. But whatever you do, don’t drink and drive.”

In addition to injuries or fatalities from a crash, drunk drivers run the risk of jail time, loss of driver license, installation of ignition interlocks on their vehicles and court ordered community service. The financial impact is also considerable, includinghigher vehicle insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *