An estimated 10,000 lives would be spared each year if drunk driving was eliminated nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Ohio State Highway Patrol will join other Ohio law enforcement agencies and thousands of highway safety partners throughout the nation to take part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over crackdown on impaired driving.
The enforcement effort begins Friday, August 15 and will last through Labor Day. During the enforcement period, more than 99 law enforcement partners have planned more than 8,400 enforcement hours.
“Impaired driving is a serious matter, and the Patrol takes a no-excuses approach to addressing it,” said Colonel Paul A. Pride, Patrol superintendent. “Law enforcement will be out in full force to remove dangerous drivers from Ohio’s roadways so you and your family can arrive home safely.”
In 2013, 341 people died in 309 OVI-related crashes on Ohio’s roads. Impaired drivers were involved in 34 percent of all fatal traffic crashes.
“We need your commitment to keeping Ohio roadways safe,” said Ohio Department of Public Safety Director John Born. “When you make responsible decisions like designating a sober driver or insisting that all passengers in your vehicle buckle up, you contribute to a safer Ohio.”
The national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over crackdown is a program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.
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