Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving Campaign Begins

 The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office will be utilizing ODOT grant funds to put more deputies on the streets this holiday season,  December 2, 2019  – January 2, 2020

We urge all who choose to consume alcohol this holiday season to do so with a plan. Below are some tips toward that goal.  

Buzzed Driving: The Sobering Statistics

• According to NHTSA, 885 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver during the month of December 2017.
• During the Christmas (6 p.m. Dec. 22, 2017, to 5:59 a.m. Dec. 26, 2017) and New Year’s Day (6 p.m. Dec. 30, 2016, to 5:59 a.m. Jan. 3, 2017) holiday periods in 2017 alone, we saw more drunk-driving-related fatalities (267) than during any other holiday period that year.
• Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with blood alcohol concentrations [BACs] of .08 or higher). In 2017, there were 10,874 people killed in drunk-driving crashes. To put it in perspective, that’s equal to about 20 jumbo jets crashing, with no survivors. 
• It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher in 49 states and the District of Columbia — no exceptions. In Utah, the limit is .05 BAC.
• Of the traffic fatalities in 2017 among children 14 and younger, 19% occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
• Despite the fact that it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2017, one person was killed every 48 minutes by a drunk driver on our nation’s roads.
• Men are more likely than women to be driving drunk in fatal crashes. In 2017, 21% of males that were involved in fatal crashes were drunk, compared to 14% of females.
• In 2017, motorcycle riders involved (killed and survived) in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than any other type of motor vehicle driver (27% for motorcycle riders, 21% for passenger cars, 20% for light-truck drivers, and 3% for drivers of large trucks)

Celebrate with a Plan

Always remember to plan ahead if you will be celebrating. If you plan to drink, plan for a sober driver to take you home. Is it your turn to be the designated driver? Take that role seriously and do not consume alcohol, not even one drink.

• 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 public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
• If available, use your community’s sober ride program [Insert your local sober ride program specifics here].
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact our Emergency Communications Center by dialing 911 (Emergency) or 541-774-7206 (Non-Emergency).
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

For more information about the Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving campaign, visit https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/drunk-driving/buzzed-driving-drunk-driving/holiday-season.