The high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs from Wednesday, August 19 – Monday, September 7.
The upcoming Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching and the Sandersville Police Department would like to remind the public about the dangers of drinking and driving. During the 2020 Labor Day weekend, Sandersville Police are joining forces with the Georgia Governors Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to spread awareness about the dangers of impaired driving and to get drunk drivers off roadways to help save lives. The annual high-visibility national enforcement campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” begins on Wednesday, August 19 and will run through Monday, September 7. During this period, the SPD will show zero tolerance for drunk driving.
Sadly, the statistics prove that much work remains in putting an end to drunk driving. Last year, 38,800 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States. 54% of children who died in a crash were driven by an intoxicated driver. These statistics are why Sandersville police officers are working with the NHTSA and Georgia GOHS to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, but is a matter of life and death.
“We want to see Labor Day celebrated, but celebrated safely,” said Captain Kelly Collins of the Sandersville Police Department. “We need a commitment from our community members that they’ll keep the streets of Sandersville free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday. Help us protect our community and put an end to this senseless behavior.”
During the 2019 Labor Day holiday period (6:00 P.M. on August 30 – 11:59 P.M. on September 2,) there were 523 crashes in Georgia that resulted in 288 injuries and 9 fatalities. In addition, 244 people were arrested for driving under the influence, 5,897 citations were written, and 7,320 warnings were issued.
The Sandersville Police Department reminds the public of the following tips during the upcoming Labor Day weekend:
– Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use a ride service to get home safely.
– If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact the Sandersville Police Dispatch at 478-552-3038.
– Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get them home safely.