Nationwide Crackdown on Impaired Drivers Begins for July 4th Holiday

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
June 27, 2003

NHTSA 30-03
Friday, June 27, 2003
Contact: Kathryn Henry
Telephone: (202) 366-9550

Tens of thousands of officers from law enforcement agencies in all 50 states will be out in force today through July 13 conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to support the U.S. Department of Transportation's You Drink & Drive. You Lose. national campaign.

The campaign will consist of 17 consecutive nights of unrelenting DWI enforcement, coupled with a national advertising campaign that airs on the three summer weekends that are traditionally the deadliest of the year.

According to AAA, 37.4 million people are expected to be on the highways during this year's 3-day Fourth of July holiday weekend - the highest total for the July 4 holiday in nine years.  NHTSA estimates that approximately 560 deaths will occur during this time period and that a majority (55 percent) will involve impaired drivers.

 "Providing for the safety of all travelers is my highest priority," said Secretary Norman Y.  Mineta.  "With this campaign we are putting violators on notice that if they drink and drive, they face the prospect of being caught, arrested, and prosecuted."

A NHTSA analysis of impaired driving fatalities over the July 4^th holiday show an increase in fatalities since 1998.  In all of 2002, alcohol-related crashes killed 17,970 people, the most fatalities in a decade.

"Impaired driving is at epidemic proportions," said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D. "We must change society's norms about what is acceptable. "Losing the equivalent of a fully loaded airliner every other day clearly is not acceptable."

For the first time, the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. crackdown is complemented by a national advertising campaign that puts drivers on notice that if they drink and drive, they will be caught and prosecuted.

Thirteen states have taken a leadership role in reducing alcohol-related crashes. NHTSA is providing additional advertising and promotional support to the following states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

Studies from the NHTSA show that Americans consider drunk driving an important social issue, ahead of healthcare, poverty, the environment and gun control.  Nearly 97 percent of Americans view drinking and driving by others as a threat to their families and themselves. In addition, the majority of Americans support increased enforcement efforts like sobriety checkpoints to protect innocent victims.

• The You Drink & Drive. You Lose. campaign reminds everyone:

• Don't risk it -- If you plan to drive, don't drink or use any drugs.
• Choose a sober designated driver before celebrating.
• Take mass transit, a taxicab or ask a friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where the activity is being held.
• Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.
• Always wear your safety belt.

The You Drink & Drive. You Lose. National Crackdown, launched in December 2002, is a comprehensive effort focused on highly visible law enforcement and paid advertising to deter impaired driving.

Tables showing the number of persons killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.01 or above, 1992-200, and persons killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the July 4th holiday period, 1997-2001, are on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.gov/ (Click on "Press Releases" in the left column under "Popular Information")and also attached below.