DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – This holiday season, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to share the message about the dangers of drunk driving. The Sheriff’s Office and NHTSA want all drivers to remember this lifesaving message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Drivers will see officers working together December 15, 2022, through January 1, 2023, to take drunk drivers off the roads. Deputies will specifically work overtime during the enforcement period with a focus of identifying and stopping impaired drivers. Funding for the enforcement is made possible through DUII enforcement grant dollars. According to NHTSA, 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020. This is why the Sheriff’s Office is working together with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life and death. As you head out to the holiday festivities, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. “It’s so important that drivers act responsibly, and that includes refraining from impaired driving,” said Lt. Brad O’Dell. “The holidays are a special time of year for many, and we want our community members to enjoy this season. We need commitment from drivers that they’ll keep the roads free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday. This enforcement period allows us to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives. Help us put an end to this senseless behavior,” he said. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and NHTSA are reminding citizens of the many resources available to get them home safely. “Drunk driving is not acceptable behavior,” said Lt. O’Dell “It is essential to plan a sober ride home before you ever leave for the party. There are too many options to get you home safely. There are just no excuses for drunk driving,” he said. The Sheriff’s Office 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 a ride service, or call a taxi or a sober friend to get home safely. If you see a drunk driver on the road, report them to law enforcement. Take the keys away from friends and family who are about to drive under the influence, and make a plan to get them home safely. For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
