The Sandersville Police Department (SPD) is joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) in reminding drivers to not get behind the wheel of a vehicle if planning to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Wednesday, May 5. Sandersville Police have zero tolerance for drunk drivers and anyone found driving over the state limit of a .08 blood alcohol content will be taken to jail. No warnings, no excuses.
In recent years, drunk driving on Cinco de Mayo has increasingly become more of a deadly issue. In fact, one third of crashes on Cinco de Mayo involve drunk drivers.
“We want everyone to have a fun celebration, but we don’t want anyone to go from being the life of the party to a death on the highway,” said Captain Kelly Collins of the Sandersville Police Department. “If adults 21 and older make the decision to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by drinking alcohol, they need to make the smart decision to not get behind the wheel if they are legally too impaired to drive.”
In the rush of party preparations, it’s easy to forget the most important element of all, which is designating a sober driver. One can not leave it to chance and wait until after the party has started to decide whether it will be okay to drive. Going out for a night of drinking without a plan for getting home safely is a recipe for disaster.
There are a number of easy ways to ensure everyone makes it home safe:
– Decide ahead of time if alcohol will be consumed.
– If planning on driving, commit to staying sober.
– Program taxi numbers into cell phones or plan ahead.
– If someone else is intoxicated, do not let them drive or walk home.
– See an impaired driver on the road? Call Sandersville Police at 552-3038.
In addition to the consequences of not taking one of the above-mentioned precautions, there is a financial impact of impaired driving. The cost of a DUI can reach upwards of $10,000. From jail time, lawyer fees, and court costs to lost wages, insurance increases, and even a suspended license, the cost of this preventable crime can quickly add up.