As families across Minnesota gear up to celebrate the holidays, law enforcement is ramping up efforts to ensure the roads are safe from impaired drivers. A sobering reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence comes from a family tragedy that occurred during a summer trip in Itasca County. A collision involving an impaired driver left off-duty Woodbury police officer Allan Olson and his son, Jacob, seriously injured. Now, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is spearheading a campaign to prevent such heartbreaking incidents.
Starting Nov. 26, law enforcement agencies statewide are to specifically focus their watch for impaired drivers, with heightened patrolling on weekends stretching through to New Year's Eve. This push for safety is supported by federal funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, allowing for overtime enforcement and awareness efforts, which include advertising campaigns to ensure the message hits home. Allan Olson's personal account echoes through the initiative: "I can barely walk and I’m probably going to need a full hip surgery in five years," he told the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. "If the driver would have just made a different choice, I wouldn’t be suffering today. It’s why we have rideshare. It's why we have friends."
OTS Director Mike Hanson underscored the gravity of such accidents, saying, "Allan and Jacob could have died. We’re glad they survived and are on the road to recovery, but there are lasting consequences," in a statement released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Reported figures cite 342 fatalities on the state's roads this year as of Nov. 24, with a staggering 668 alcohol-related driving deaths recorded over the past five years, not to mention the 1,926 severe injuries from alcohol-related crashes.
It's vital to remember that alcohol isn't the sole culprit; substances from cannabis and hemp-derived THC products to prescription drugs can impair driving. And the penalties for getting behind the wheel aren't light—the loss of license, high costs, potential jail time, and, for some, the mandated use of an ignition interlock device. Planning a sober ride is more than just a convenience; it's a potentially life-saving decision. As the OTS lays out clear advice, "Be safe and plan ahead" for a sober transportation for any festivities that involve alcohol.
Should you spot an impaired driver, the directive is clear: Call 911 with the car's location, license plate number, and observed driving behavior. The law takes a firm stance not only on drinking alcohol in a vehicle but also on the handling of cannabis products. For those needing resources on safe driving, the OTS website at DriveSmartMN.org is a go-to, complete with tools like the Traffic Safety and Cannabis Q&A, and a sobering video detailing Olson’s recovery and crash injuries.
