Drunk and Drugged Driving Ruins the Holidays

Bay Area Law Enforcement Aims to Save Lives With ‘Drive Sober or
Get Pulled Over’

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–If you’re enjoying the holidays with a drink, the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the California Office of
Traffic Safety (OTS) brought this important message to the Bay
Area today: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

At a press conference at Treasure Island this morning, NHTSA
Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind stressed how alcohol impaired crashes
and the tragedies that can follow them should not be accepted as an
inevitable part of life.

“In the time it takes to watch a two-hour movie, two or more lives will
be lost. Drunk driving doesn’t just happen. It’s a decision people make.
A decision to break the law can bring with it fatal consequences,” said
Rosekind. “We’re proud to be working with law enforcement agencies in
the Bay Area and across the country to protect the public and get drunk
drivers off our roads.”

Due to the increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities around the
holidays each year and the rise in drug-related DUI, the California
Highway Patrol (CHP) and law enforcement agencies across California will
mount special operations searching for and arresting alcohol and drug
impaired drivers through January 3. They have good reason to – in 2013,
10,076 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver. In
December 2013 alone, there were 98 people killed and over 1,800 injured
in alcohol and drug involved crashes in California.

“Drivers have received the message, but some still ignore it or think it
doesn’t apply to them,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “Driving under
the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal, and even prescription
drugs or marijuana can be deadly and dangerous. Don’t take a chance on a
crash or an arrest, designate a sober driver.”

As part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement
campaign period, police will be increasing the number of patrols,
setting up checkpoints, and asking media to reach out to all drivers. If
you’re caught driving impaired by alcohol or drugs, you could face jail
time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other DUI
expenses, totaling $10,000 on average. That’s not a small price, and
that doesn’t even count the heftier price you could pay: the price of
your life or someone else’s.

The Office of Traffic Safety has developed a special mobile app
especially for the Designated Driver, “DDVIP,” as free download for iOS
and Android devices. Users can “Map a Spot” with their current location
to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of
Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout
California where they will find free offers like non-alcohol drinks,
appetizers and more. And for those who want to imbibe but also make it a
point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft
or Curb – all from one screen.

Contacts

California Office of Traffic Safety
Chris Cochran, 916-509-3063
chris.cochran@ots.ca.gov
or
NHTSA
Gordon
Trowbridge, 202-366-9550
Communications Director
gordon.trowbridge@dot.gov