State gives cold reminder during National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

By KAYTE MARSHALL 
Capital News Service 

LANSING – As winter weather returns, the Office of Highway Safety Planning is raising awareness during National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, providing a cold reminder of the chilling consequences of drunken driving. 

“Please, don’t get behind the wheel if you are impaired by alcohol or drugs. Make the right choice for everyone,” the office said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In 2022, there were 9,331 alcohol-involved crashes in Michigan, with 322 fatalities, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. 

There are drunken driving incidents “probably every day,” State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw said. “That’s how prevalent it is.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 37 people in the United States die in drunken driving crashes every day. In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.

The agency has implemented annual impaired driving prevention initiatives, such as the “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” and “Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns.

Another initiative, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” runs from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1 and focuses on impaired driving prevention around the holiday season. In 2020, 209 drunken driving-related deaths occurred during Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods.

“Now that we’re coming up on the holiday season, there’s going to be a lot of people that are going out and participating at parties,” Shaw said. “We’re not saying that you can’t do that – we’re just saying to have a plan.”

“Have a plan to get there using either a rideshare program, designated driver or public transportation,” Shaw said. “Whatever it takes to make sure that you don’t get behind the wheel.”

The State Police will have extra patrols to identify and apprehend impaired drivers during the holiday season. 

Michigan also has drug recognition experts to help officers recognize when someone may be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunken drivers can face jail time, as well as upwards of $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time from work, higher insurance rates, car towing and more.

President Joe Biden has proclaimed December 2023 as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

“If you have used any substance, never get behind the wheel,” Biden said in a press release. “If you see someone – a friend, loved one, colleague or anyone else – putting themselves or others at risk, offer to help.”

Earlier in December, the State Police, the American Automobile Association, the Office of Highway Safety Planning and other state agencies held an Impaired Driving Summit to prepare for National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. 

The agencies discussed methods of patrolling for and preventing impaired driving.

“Our number-one goal is to never have to arrest somebody for this,” Shaw said. “We just want to remind people that with the holidays coming up, being impaired and not having a plan to get home is the worst possible way to go.”