By Captain Chris Miller, CCSO

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – This year, Halloween falls on a Friday, and Christian County Sheriff’s Deputies will be out on the roads looking for drunk drivers as part of an aggressive Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement effort.

“Please don’t make a mistake that could end your life, or the life of another.” said Sheriff Livy Leavell, Jr. “We want to remind all Christian County drivers that if you’ve had any alcohol to drink, you cannot drive. There are always other options: a designated, sober driver; a taxi; or public transportation.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2008-2012, almost half (51%) of all crash fatalities on Halloween night involved a drunk driver or motorcycle operator. During that 5-year period, there were 166 people killed in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night. And on a night best-known for trick-or-treaters in the streets, it’s no surprise that pedestrians make up a tragic number of those fatalities. In 2012, 19 percent of the fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween involved drunk drivers.

In every state, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher.

“If you plan to drink on Halloween, plan now how you’ll get home,” Sheriff Leavell said.

This Halloween, the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign aims to save lives by reminding all drivers to follow these simple tips:

• Before the Halloween festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night. If you wait until you’ve been drinking, —you’re more likely to make the wrong decision to drive drunk.
• Always designate a sober driver.
• If you are impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
• Use your community’s sober ride program.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.

For more information, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.