This holiday season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is partnering with the Sandersville Police Department and the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to share the message about the dangers of drunk driving. From Monday, December 14, 2020, through Sunday, January 3, 2021, Sandersville Police will participate in the high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. During this period, Sandersville Police will show zero tolerance for drunk driving. Increased state and national messages about the dangers of driving impaired, coupled with enforcement and increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce drunk driving on our nation’s roadways.
Sadly, the statistics prove that much work is to be done to put an end to drunk driving. According to the Georgia State Patrol, 124 people were arrested for driving under the influence during last year’s holiday season. There were 207 traffic crashes with 102 injuries and 14 fatalities. This is why the Sandersville Police Department is working with the NHTSA and Georgia’s GOHS to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, but a matter of life and death. As individual’s head out to the holiday festivities, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
“The holidays should be an enjoyable time for our community members, not a marker for the death of a loved one due to a drunk-driving crash,” said Captain Kelly Collins of the Sandersville Police Department. “We need commitment from our community members that they’ll keep the roads free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday. This is a campaign to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives. Help us put an end to this senseless behavior.”
Drunk driving related fatalities are preventable, and drivers must remember that driving impaired by any substance – alcohol or other drugs – is deadly, illegal, and selfish behavior.
“Drunk driving is not acceptable behavior,” said Captain Collins. “It is essential to plan a sober ride home before you ever leave for the party. That’s why, during the holiday season, we will make zero exceptions and arrest all drunk drivers. There are just no excuses.”
Sandersville Police recommend these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
– Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even after only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use a ride service to get home safely.
– If an individual sees a drunk driver on the road, contact the Sandersville Police Dispatch at 552-3038.
– Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get that friend home safely.