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Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: Let’s Work Together to End Drunk Driving!

From Police Department
During the Labor Day holiday period, including the end of summertime and the busy holiday weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be working alongside the law enforcement community in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey to decrease impaired driving. From August 15 through September 1, the Franklin Lakes Police Department will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement period. The goal is to deter impaired driving and prevent the tragedies seen during previous Labor Day weekends from happening again. 

During the 2023 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. September 1 – 5:59 a.m. September 5), there were 511 traffic crash fatalities nationwide. Of these 511 fatalities, 36% (185) involved a drunk driver. Sixty-eight percent of the impaired drivers killed had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher. Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday in 2023, 45% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher. 

“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Chief Mark McCombs. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it kills. Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this dangerous behavior.”

The Franklin Lakes Police Department and NHTSA are reminding citizens of the many resources available to help them and impaired drivers get home safely during this Labor Day Holiday weekend. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. “Drunk driving is not acceptable behavior, especially when there are so many safe alternatives to get you home safely,” said Sergeant Denny Knubel. 

The Franklin Lakes Police Department 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, citizens are urged to call 911.
  • 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.

Remember: A few dollars spent on a ride home is a lot cheaper than a DUI, which can cost up to $10,000. Something else to consider: Don’t ever be too proud or embarrassed to ask for a ride. Allowing a sober driver to help you get home safely keeps you and others safe. What’s more embarrassing than asking for a sober ride home? Spending the night in jail. Having your car impounded. Losing your job or your security clearance. Take your pick.

No one should mix drinking and driving, and no one is immune to the effects of drinking. If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. Remind your friends to never get into a vehicle with a drunk driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive after drinking, take away their keys and help them get home safely. Most importantly: Always have a plan before you head out for the evening. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, you will already be too impaired to make the right choice.