As Labor Day approaches, the New Orleans Police Department is joining the national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. From August 15 to September 1, police will increase enforcement to help prevent drunk driving, working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as reported by the New Orleans Police Department.
Last year's Labor Day weekend saw 511 traffic fatalities across the country, with 36% involving drunk drivers. New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick highlighted the campaign's importance, "We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking," according to the New Orleans Police Department News.
The statistics from the previous year revealed that a significant 68% of the impaired drivers killed had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher. Drivers between the ages of 18-34 made up 45% of the drunk drivers killed during the holiday weekend, as per the New Orleans Police Department.
In order to curb these alarming numbers, New Orleans Police Department is urging partygoers to secure a sober ride home in advance, “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and that it kills,” Superintendent Kirkpatrick said, reinforcing the grave risk of driving while intoxicated. If situations arise where an individual is unable to drive, New Orleans Police Department encourages turning over their keys to a sober driver or using a taxi or rideshare service.
In line with national efforts, New Orleans Police Department encourages the public to immediately report drunk drivers to the authorities. Such vigilance from both law enforcement and citizens is crucial to maintaining safety on the roads during this holiday period. The New Orleans Police Department, along with the support of the NHTSA and the local community, hopes to significantly reduce the number of driving under the influence incidents and consequently, save lives.
