State and local law enforcement agencies in Arkansas will join the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from August 15 through September 1 for the annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign.
The effort, led by the Arkansas Highway Safety Office, aims to deter impaired driving and prevent the kinds of tragedies seen during past Labor Day weekends.
During the 2023 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. Sept. 1 to 5:59 a.m. Sept. 5), 511 people were killed in traffic crashes nationwide. Of those, 36% — or 185 deaths — involved a drunk driver. In Arkansas, there were 12 traffic fatalities during the same period, and 30% (four deaths) involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
“We want Arkansas motorists 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 Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness and enforcement 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.”
Authorities encourage drivers to plan for a sober ride before they start drinking — whether by designating a driver, using a taxi, or calling a rideshare service. Impaired judgment after drinking can lead to dangerous decisions, officials warned.
Law enforcement urges the public to take action when they encounter someone who may be impaired behind the wheel. “If you see a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement,” the Arkansas Highway Safety Office advised.
More information on impaired driving is available at www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving, through the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136, and via Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths initiative at www.tzdarkansas.org.
