A lot of people fear mishaps with fireworks over the Independence Day holiday period, but police have an even bigger fear of people partaking of too much liquid merriment and then climbing behind the wheel. It’s a well-founded fear inasmuch as last year’s 4th of July holiday saw seven people die on Michigan highways including at least one crash involving alcohol.
That’s why the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police are partnering with the Office of Highway Safety Planning and ninety-three (93) law enforcement agencies during the National “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs from next Monday, July 1st, 2019 thru July 14th.
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office will have extra deputies patrolling the roadways in Berrien County during that time period, with extra deputies making it a priority to enforce “drunk and/or drugged driving” laws.
This “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is about saving lives, not writing citations, which is why it is widely publicized.
The extra enforcement is paid for with federal funds administered by the Office of Highway Safety Planning.
Michael Prince is Director of the Office of Highway Safety Planning in Michigan. He says, “Driving while impaired is completely preventable as are the deaths and injuries that result from this behavior,” and adds, “The campaign is designed to inform the public that additional patrols will be out in force, and they should make alternate arrangements for transportation before drinking. There is absolutely zero tolerance for impaired driving in Michigan.”
Authorities want you to celebrate the Fourth of July safely and always remember: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
If you plan on partying during that time period or any time period, arrange for a sober designated driver to get you home safely.
- Remember – if you’re impaired by any substance, you shouldn’t drive.
- Remember – If you feel different, you drive different.
- Remember – If you “Drive High” you could get a DUI (Driving while Impaired.”
According to statistics provided by the Office of Highway Safety Planning, Michigan averages 18 traffic fatalities per year for the Fourth of July holiday. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC’s) of .08 or higher. In 2017 one person was killed every 48 minutes by a drunk driver on America’s roads.
Men are more likely than women to be driving drunk in fatal crashes. In 2017, 21-percent of males were drunk in these crashes, compared to 14-percent of females. Of the traffic fatalities in 2017 among children 14 and younger, 19-percent occurred in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
According to statistics provided by the Michigan State Police there were 9,786 alcohol-involved crashes with 315 alcohol-involved fatalities in 2018. There were 2,636 drug-involved crashes and 247 drug-involved fatalities statewide in 2018. The number of fatal crashes involving drivers testing positive for cannabinoid drugs have nearly doubled since 2013.
Michigan law considers persons with a BAC of .08 or greater to be driving drunk, although motorists can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes they are impaired.
According to the NHTSA, laboratory and on-road research shows most drivers are significantly impaired at a BAC of .08 with regards to critical driving tasks such as braking, steering, lane changing, judgment, and divided attention.
Michigan’s drunk driving law contains a zero tolerance provision for drivers with certain illegal drugs in their system. Prosecutors do not have to prove the driver was impaired, just that they were driving with those drugs in their system. The same penalties for drunk driving will apply to those convicted under the zero tolerance drug provisions.
