As Georgians deck the halls and ready their toasts, law enforcement sends a clear message: drive sober or expect to face the consequences this holiday season. The "Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, an annual initiative supported by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, has rolled out with extra patrols and check points to curb impaired driving. Lt. Maurice Raines of the Georgia State Patrol stated in an interview with FOX 5 Atlanta, "Have a plan in place if you're going to drive do not drink and if you're going to drink, do not drive."
According to a sobering statistic from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration echoed in the campaign's advisories, 40 percent of fatal car crashes in Georgia over the Christmas period from 2017 to 2021 involved a driver under the influence; this reflects a preventable tragedy that law enforcement is eager to reduce, and as Lt. Raines warned, the cost of a DUI goes beyond legal fees—it can include jail time, loss of life, and irreversible heartache for taking someone else’s life, as FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
To aid partygoers in making safe transportation choices, the campaign is teamed with practical solutions, including a partnership with Lyft to offer $20 vouchers for rides starting Friday. Funded through the Governor's Office of Highway Safety Association, the move provides another layer of Incentive to leave the car keys at home for those who've taken to drink. It aligns with AAA's Tow-To-Go program, which provides tows within a 10-mile radius regardless of AAA membership status, as detailed by Garrett Townsend with AAA Georgia in his discussion with FOX 5 Atlanta.
"No warnings. No exceptions." – This is the mantra being preached by multiple law enforcement agencies in the metro Atlanta area, as captured by WSB-TV. They urge people to pre-select non-drinking designated drivers and for hosts to ensure that their guests don't drive impaired, moreover, the presumed safety of a seat belt is touted as the best defense against the impaired drivers that might still be on the road. Allen Poole, Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety told WSB-TV, “The holidays are time for families and friends to celebrate but there are too many families who will be spending this holiday season missing a loved one whose life was ended by a drunk or drugged driver.”
This urgency comes as law enforcement agencies strive to prevent the holidays from turning into a time of mourning for families due to preventable alcohol-related accidents, making the choice of a sober driver all the more critical amid the festive cheer. Whether through a courtesy tow, a discounted Lyft ride, or a diligent friend, the options are there to ensure that the season of giving does not yield to the giving of needless sorrow, if one simply plans ahead and chooses responsibly, as the Georgia law enforcement and the Governor's Office emphasizes.
