Are More Drunk Driving Arrests Being Made During the Holidays? Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

There’s a higher percentage of drunk driving arrests throughout the U.S. because of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The increase of local law enforcement and sobriety checkpoints prove to be an effective deterrent against drunk driving crashes, injuries or deaths. It’s also zero-tolerance for drunk driving, which is cause for an immediate arrest.

And strict enforcement appears to be working, too.

Maryland’s Drunk Driving Arrests Increase

Take Maryland for example, which is one of the many states that took part in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s campaign.

Nearly 200 impaired drivers were arrested during the holiday season from December 23, 2017 to January 1, 2018. 10,000 traffic stops were made from state troopers with 264 arrests, with 183 of those connected to impaired driving. Troopers also issued more than 6,500 citations and more than 7,500 warnings.

The numbers are staggering, which means the increase in enforcement is working. Effective strategies such as heightened law enforcement and strong drunk driving laws in place can bring down the unfortunate number of drunk driving deaths that’s been on the rise in the U.S. since 2015.

Alternative Solutions Other Than Drunk Driving

Another strategy is to bring more public awareness to alternative solutions rather than getting behind the wheel impaired, such as appointing a designated driver or using a ridesharing app.

Voluntary Ignition Interlock Device in Vehicle

Voluntary Ignition Interlock Devices can also be an effective tool to ensure no one is starting their vehicle drunk. The Ignition Interlock Device is a vehicle breathalyzer that can show if someone is too impaired to drive. Many vendors provide their Ignition Interlock Devices as an option to those who can benefit from it by having one in their car, such as college and high school students, or someone whose had prior impaired driving convictions.

Get on the Road Safely

Need an Ignition Interlock Device? Choose Smart Start, the worldwide provider. Call our Customer Care Center at (800) 831-3299 or fill out our online form.