The Lake County Safe Communities Coalition (LCSCC) is reminding drivers about the lifesaving benefits of not driving while impaired during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement effort. The national impaired driving campaign is during the Labor Day holiday and runs from mid-August to September 2, 2024, with multiple Lake County law enforcement agencies participating in the enforcement effort. The LCSCC and local law enforcement agencies are partnering with the upcoming Painesville Farmers Market (1 Liberty Street, Painesville, OH 44077) on Thursday August 15th, to promote safe driving habits with the kickoff beginning at the start of the Farmers Market at 12:00 p.m. The LCSCC will have a booth with fun games, safe driving pledges, and raffle prizes. At the start of the market, Trooper William Head with the Ohio State Highway Patrol will speak about the dangerous risks of driving impaired and not securing a safe ride home through a designated driver or ride share program. Next, Commissioner John Hamercheck will share a few words regarding his experiences with driving sober and why it is important.
According to NHTSA, every 39 minutes, one person is killed in a drunk-driving crash. That’s more than 13,000 people a year. “We need commitment from our community members that they’ll keep the streets free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe summertime and Labor Day holiday. This is an awareness effort to get the message out that impaired driving is illegal, and it takes lives,” stated Health Educator Katelyn Christo.
In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see officers working together during this time to take impaired drivers off the roads. No matter how you plan to spend Labor Day weekend this year, make sure you plan it safely.
The LCSCC recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
- Remember that 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 or a ride service to get home safely.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
