This weekend on Saturday, August 17, the Lake County Safe Communities Coalition (LCSCC) is holding its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over (DSGPO) Kickoff to educate Lake County residents on the importance of sober driving. The event will be begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Painesville Speedway raceway, located at 500 Fairport Nursery Road, Painesville, Ohio 44077. During the Kickoff, there will be short presentation by Michael Gershe, a man who lost his mother to a drunk driver at a very young age. He will share his tragic story, with hopes that another drunk driving accident may be prevented. There will also be representation from Lake County Law Enforcement.
The LCSCC reports that, as of July 5, 2019, there have been three Operating a Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs (OVI)-related fatal crashes in Lake County. Haley Russo of the LCSCC, addressing all drivers, stated, “I would like to remind you to drive sober! The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to be safe whenever they are behind the wheel, and to recall that all motorists can play a role in keeping the roadways safe by never driving impaired, and designating a sober drivers.”
The LCSCC and NHTSA recommend the following safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
- It is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver, or plan to use public transportation to get home safely.
- Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app that is available on Google Play for Android devices (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhtsa.SaferRide&hl=en), and Apple’s iTunes Store for IOS devices (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/saferride/id950774008?mt=8). SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend, and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local police department.
- If a friend is about to drink and drive, take the keys away, and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
The DSGPO is a national, high-visibility enforcement campaign. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will partner with law enforcement nationwide during the DSGPO campaign from August 16 through September 2, 2019. For more information about the DSGPO campaign, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.
