UPPER SANDUSKY, OH — This holiday season, the Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition is partnering with local law enforcement agencies to share the message about the dangers of drunk driving. Drivers will see officers working together Dec. 16, 2022, through Jan. 1, 2023, to take drunk drivers off the roads.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. One person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020. With these staggering statistics in mind, the Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition is working together with law enforcement to remind drivers that drunk driving is both illegal and a matter of life and death. When heading out to 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 Safe Communities Coordinator Jeff Ritchey. “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.”
It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. Beyond the cost of life, drunk driving costs can be financial, too: Those who are caught drinking and driving may face jail time, lose their driver’s licenses and vehicles, and pay up to $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, higher insurance rates, and lost wages.
The Safe Communities Coalition recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
- Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even after one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver, plan to use a ride service, call a taxi or a sober friend to get home safely.
- See a drunk driver on the road? Contact law enforcement to report them.
- Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get the friend home safely.
For more traffic safety tips and information, follow @WyandotHealth on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or visit WyandotHealth.com.
