FACT SHEET
This Fourth of July, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working with law enforcement nationwide to reduce impaired driving with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. NHTSA and the Dent County Health Center are sharing this reminder for all drivers: If you plan to drink alcohol, plan ahead for a sober driver. Even one or two alcoholic drinks can cause impairment. The goal is to save lives during what is usually one of the deadliest holidays on our roads.
This Fourth of July, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working with law enforcement nationwide to reduce impaired driving with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. NHTSA and the Dent County Health Center are sharing this reminder for all drivers: If you plan to drink alcohol, plan ahead for a sober driver. Even one or two alcoholic drinks can cause impairment. The goal is to save lives during what is usually one of the deadliest holidays on our roads.
- In 2020, 493 people died in motor vehicle crashes over the July 4th holiday period (6 p.m. July 2 – 5:59 a.m. July 6, 2020). Forty-one percent (201) of those fatalities occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
- From 2016 to 2020, there were 1,390 drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the 4th of July holiday period. Thirty-nine percent (542) of the drivers killed were alcohol-impaired (with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), and more than half (51%) were between the ages of 21-34.
- Nighttime hours are especially dangerous: Over the 2020 July 4th holiday period, of the 201 people who died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes, 85% of them occurred in nighttime crashes (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.).
- Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs at or above .08). In 2020, there were 11,654 people killed in drunk-driving crashes.
- Nationally, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, except in Utah, where the limit is .05 BAC.
- It’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, yet in 2020, one person was killed every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads.
- Men are more likely than women to be driving drunk when involved in fatal crashes. In 2020, 22% of males were drunk, compared to 16% of females.
- Nighttime is a particularly dangerous time to be on the roads: The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2020 was 3.1 times higher at night than during the day.
The Cost is Too High
- On average, a DUI can set you back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, and more.
- The financial impact from impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Based on 2010 numbers (the most recent year for which cost data is available), impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion annually.
- If you’re caught drinking and driving, you can face jail time. Imagine trying to explain that to your friends and family or your place of employment.
- Drinking and driving can cause you to lose your driver’s license and your vehicle. This could keep you from getting to work, resulting in lost wages and, potentially, job loss.
Always Plan Ahead
Always remember to make a plan before you start drinking. If you plan to drink, plan ahead for a sober driver to take you home. Before you start celebrating Independence Day, look over these safety tips to keep you, your loved ones, and everyone else safe on the road.
- Plan ahead: If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make the right decision, you might not. Before you have one drink, designate a sober driver who won’t be drinking.
- If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously and don’t drink.
- It’s already the law, so make it a personal rule: only drive 100% sober. That means no alcoholic beverages — not even one if you’re driving.
- You have options for getting home safely: designate a sober driver, or use public transportation or a ride service.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact the Dent County Sheriff or Salem Police.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.
This Fourth of July, commit to only driving when you’re 100-percent sober. As you head out to celebrate, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/drunk-driving/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over/4th-july.
