Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, NHTSA NEWS—MOTOR VEHICLES—NHTSA launches campaign to reduce impaired driving during holidays, (Dec 11, 2024)

By WK Editorial Staff

Over 13,000 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2022, the agency reported.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated its winter holiday "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" national enforcement mobilization campaign. The campaign, which focuses on reducing alcohol-impaired driving, was launched with a reminder to drivers: “Don’t Pass on a Sober Ride.” This initiative comes in response to statistics showing that alcohol-impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal traffic accidents in the United States, especially during the holiday season (NHTSA Press Release (Dec. 10, 2024)).

In 2022, 13,524 individuals lost their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 32 percent of all traffic fatalities. On average, one person was killed every 39 minutes due to an alcohol-impaired driving crash. NHTSA’s campaign aims to curb these numbers by urging drivers to plan safe and sober rides home during the holidays.

The campaign was officially launched at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum by NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman, alongside notable figures such as Col. Jeff Glover, Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety and President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; Matt Leinart, Heisman Trophy winner and Fox Sports college football analyst; and Tara Repka Flores, an advocate for impaired driving prevention.

Deputy Administrator Shulman emphasized the importance of making responsible choices during the holiday season. “If you drive impaired by alcohol or drugs, you’re putting yourself and others around you at risk, and the consequences can be devastating,” Shulman stated. She encouraged everyone to make the holiday season memorable for positive reasons by planning ahead for a sober ride home.

The campaign also promotes the message, "If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI," as part of the Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy. This comprehensive approach aims to significantly reduce serious injuries and deaths on U.S. highways, roads, and streets, with the ultimate goal of achieving zero road fatalities.

Supported by a national media buy exceeding $14 million, the campaign will feature TV, radio, and digital ads from December 11, 2024, through January 1, 2025. Law enforcement officers across the country will also increase their visibility and community engagement efforts to prevent alcohol- and drug-impaired driving during this period.

NHTSA strongly advises everyone to always wear a seat belt and plan a safe ride home this holiday season. Driving impaired, whether by alcohol or other drugs, is illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The public is encouraged to report impaired drivers by calling 911.

For further information on impaired driving and the ongoing campaign, resources are available at NHTSA.gov/DrunkDriving, NHTSA.gov/DrugImpairedDriving, and TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.

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