Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Traffic Enforcement Campaign

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Traffic Enforcement Campaign

Published on August 18, 2022

The Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the end of the summer travel season and the beginning of fall. Holiday weekends also represent some of the deadliest times of year on America's roadways due to impaired driving. Some people will include alcohol in their activities and make the decision to drive impaired. To impact this issue, and to coincide with the nationwide 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign, the Lincoln Police Department will be conducting specialized enforcement from August 19, 2022, through September 5, 2022. Increased enforcement for the project is funded by the Nebraska Department of Transportation-Highway Safety Office.

Throughout Lincoln, extra officers will be conducting high visibility traffic enforcement to help deter impaired driving. Officers will take a zero-tolerance approach to drivers under the influence of alcoholic beverages and/or drugs. They will also be watchful for other traffic and safety violations.

In 2021, Lincoln police officers investigated 7,632 traffic crashes, 1,741 resulted in injury and 11 resulted in death. Officers also arrested 1,152 drivers for driving under the influence. Driving after drinking is a choice. Choose to do the right thing, the safe thing and find alternate transportation. Use a designated driver, take a taxi, use a ride-share service, or don't consume any amount of alcohol if you intend to or need to drive.

The Lincoln Police Department and Nebraska Department of Transportation-Highway Safety Office are reminding citizens of the many resources available to get them home safely. Drunk driving is not an acceptable behavior, especially when there are so many safe alternatives to get you home safely.

The Lincoln Police Department recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:

• 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 you see a drunk driver on the road, contact the Lincoln Police Department.
• Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make other arrangements to get your friend home safely.

For more information on impaired driving, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving