State and local law enforcement agencies will work overtime during the holiday season to identify and arrest drunk drivers on Arkansas streets and highways.
The heightened enforcement campaign “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” begins on Wednesday, Dec. 13, and continues through New Year’s Day 2018.
“Drivers will notice increased enforcement patrols watching for anyone who is driving impaired,” said Col. Bill Bryant, director of the Arkansas State Police. “It is vital that we keep travelers safe, not just during the holidays, but every day. With an increase in traffic on the roads, and people attending holiday parties, we will likely see an uptick in drunk driving. We’ll be arresting anyone who breaks the law by driving impaired.”
Increased saturation patrols will be part of the initiative designed to keep Arkansas roadways safe. The intensified enforcement effort directed toward drunk drivers underscores the severity of the problem, both locally and across the nation.
Nationally during 2016, traffic crashes killed 37,461 people. Twenty-eight percent (10,497) died in impaired driving crashes where a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the limit of .08.
Arkansas law enforcement agencies are teamed-up with police officers nationally to establish zero tolerance for drunk drivers and encourage all drivers to be safe and sober.
ATU Department of Public Safety would like to remind individuals to follow these tips:
- If you plan on drinking, do not drive. Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you get in the vehicle. Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving while intoxicated, or worse, risk injury or death to someone in a crash.
- If you’re impaired, use a taxi, or call a sober friend or family member.
- Promptly report drunk drivers to law enforcement.
- Always wear your seat belt or use protective equipment while on a motorcycle. These items are your best defense against an impaired driver.