TUE, MAY 22, 2012
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Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

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Governor Kitzhaber has proclaimed December as “3D Month” in recognition of statewide efforts to reduce drugged and drunken driving during the holidays and into the new year. 

“Motorists will be seeing increased enforcement efforts by Oregon police agencies during the holidays,” said Linda Fisher-Lewis, ODOT’s Impaired Driving Program manager.  Over the past decade, more than 2,000 individuals were killed and over 10,000 people were injured by drinking and drugged drivers in Oregon. The financial cost of those losses is more than $9 billion, but that’s minimal compared to the pain of losing a loved one in such a tragic way.
 
December is Oregon’s peak month for crashes. If you are planning to host or attend a holiday get-together this season, here are a few safety tips:

  • Have designated drivers. Plan to have sober drivers at your party who can help get folks home safely. Volunteer to be a sober driver at someone else’s party.
  • Plan to stay overnight.  Make pre-arrangements to stay overnight at your friend’s home or a hotel room where you won’t have to drive if you have been drinking.
  • Plan ahead to get keys. Prepare a basket or bowl where all of your guests can leave their keys, and you are the only person who can retrieve the keys. This way, you can talk with your guests before they leave about the best options for them.
  • Be ready with a cab fare fund. Having available cash to pay cab fare for your guests if they need it reduces the stress on you. If you can’t afford to pay for it yourself, ask your guests to pitch in a few bucks on your invitation.
  • Keep a phone number for a cab company handy. Print the name of a local cab company on your invitation and ask your guests to program it into their mobile phones.
  • Purchase non-alcoholic beverages. Always have soft drinks, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink.

For tips on helping young people avoid dangerous situations involving drugs, drinking and driving, or to learn about other programs aimed at reducing impaired driving, visithttp://www.nhtsa.gov/Impaired. Watch the ODOT-producedvideo on the consequences of driving impaired in Oregon (www.youtube.com/oregondot).