Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over National Enforcement

Dover, Del. (August 16, 2024) —  The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is partnering with state and local law enforcement agencies to participate in the national high visibility enforcement, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. From August 16 to September 2, police officers will be patrolling statewide to remove impaired drivers off Delaware roadways. This initiative aligns with the busy Labor Day Holiday weekend. If your celebrations include drinking, make sure to plan a safe and sober ride home.

In addition to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, Delaware law enforcement will also participate in the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Saturation Saturday initiative on August 24. This is a coordinated effort with staff, volunteers, and law enforcement, focused on saving lives by intensifying enforcement during one of the nation’s busiest time frames for travel.

“Saturation Saturday is an opportunity to team up with law enforcement and amplify the message that if you choose to drive impaired, you will get caught,” said Bryna Clark-Braverman, Regional Executive Director, MADD Mid Atlantic. “MADD Delaware urges the public to plan ahead for a safe ride home over the Labor Day weekend by choosing a rideshare service, designating a non-drinking sober driver, or using public transportation.”

Nationally, during the Labor Day holiday (September 2 – September 6) in 2022, there were 490 crash fatalities in the country. Of those fatalities, 39% involved a drunk driver, and 25% involved drivers with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Although it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol, one person was killed on our nation’s roads every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in 2022 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In Delaware, the number of DUI crash fatalities has been decreasing in recent years. While this may seem positive, it’s important to emphasize that the only acceptable number of DUI-related fatalities is zero. There were 66 DUI arrests during the 2023 Labor Day holiday weekend. Most of the DUI crashes occurred in Sussex County (50%), followed by New Castle County (31%), and Kent County (19%).  Data shows males are more likely to be involved in a DUI related crash and were represented in 81% of those crashes statewide.

“The biggest issue with impaired driving is that people know what the consequences are, but still choose to drive after drinking,” said Sharon Bryson, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “The outcome of a DUI can have long-term effects ranging from financial burdens, obtaining a criminal record, and/or changes to the overall welfare of an individual and loved ones due to serious injury and/or loss of life. Driving under the influence is never acceptable, especially when there are so many options to get home safely.”

The Cost of Drunk Driving

• On average, a DUI can cost $10,000 or more in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, and more.
• If you’re caught drinking and driving, you can face jail time. Imagine trying to explain that to your friends and family or your place of employment.
• Drinking and driving can cause you to lose your driver’s license and your vehicle. This could keep you from getting to work, resulting in lost wages and, potentially, job loss.
• Individuals and family members could incur medical bills from hospital expenses or long-term care costs.

Drinking and driving don’t mix. Always have a plan before you go out. There are plenty of alternatives to get home safely, such as designating a sober driver, using public transportation, or calling a taxi or rideshare service. No one is immune to the effects of drinking. If you feel different, you drive different. Getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol can have tragic, irreversible results for not only the person driving under the influence but other road users as well.

About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues, such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues. More information can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com. Follow OHS on the Delaware Office of Highway Safety website, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.