The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) has reminded citizens that Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, celebrated with barbecues and road trips, but motorists should be aware that the Labor Day holiday weekend is one of the deadliest times of the year in terms of drunk-driving fatalities.
During the 2018 Labor Day holiday period, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, there were 439 traffic fatalities nationwide, and 43% of those fatalities involved drivers who had been drinking. More than one-third of the fatalities — 38% — involved drivers who were over the legal limit.
Ultimately, drinking and driving is a choice, and it is a choice that puts all road users at risk.
The DPS said it is imperative that we all do our part to end drunk and drugged driving. Remember that it is never okay to drink/drug and drive. Even if you plan to have only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or use a ride serve to get home safely.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement. Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely. These are small tasks that can make a big difference to save lives.
Last year in Iowa, there were six fatalities over the three-day Labor Day weekend. Three of these fatalities involved a drunk driver.
In order to help keep people safe on our roadways and put an end to drunk driving, extra law enforcement will be out, both locally and nationally, in support of the 2020 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.
From Aug. 21 through Sept. 7, officers will be out there, keeping our roads safe by removing impaired drivers and addressing other serious traffic violations.
The Iowa DPS and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau remind you to drive sober or get pulled over.
