NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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During the 2024 Labor Day holiday, including the end of summertime and the busy Labor Day weekend, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working with the Office of Highway Safety (OHSP) to reduce impaired driving with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign, which will run through Sept. 2 in Michigan.
If alcohol and/or drugs are part of a late-summer celebration, NHTSA, the Michigan State Police and county and municipal police agencies across Michigan are encouraging motorists to celebrate safely and make smart driving decisions. They want drivers to understand the importance of planning ahead to ensure a safe ride home.
Officers will be on the lookout for motorists under the influence of drugs and alcohol throughout the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement period. In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, although drivers can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes they are impaired.
In 2023, nearly 41 per cent of traffic crash fatalities on Michigan roadways involved alcohol or drugs. Over the Labor Day holiday weekend periods from 2019 to 2023, there were 44 driver fatalities in traffic crashes in Michigan. In those crashes, 43.2 per cent of the drivers killed were alcohol- and/or drug-impaired.
Impaired driving not only endangers drivers and their passengers, but also other vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. The goal is to save lives on Michigan roads by raising awareness of the risks associated with driving impaired.
Did you know?
The OHSP offers free outdoor banners to assist with seat belt and impaired-driving enforcement efforts?
- Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober banners are available to Michigan law enforcement agencies on a first-come, first-served basis.
- To secure your banner(s), please fill out this order form. Completed forms should be sent to [email protected].
- Agencies are encouraged to display these banners in a well-traveled location during seat belt and impaired-driving enforcement efforts.
Learn more about the costs and consequences of driving impaired in Michigan: Costs and consequences of driving impaired (michigan.gov).
Learn more by visiting the OHSP impaired-driving page.
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