With Labor Day weekend right around the corner – and an influx in roadway travelers expected – law enforcement agencies across Mississippi are teaming up to ensure drivers stay safe between now and Sept. 1.
From Gulfport to Jackson to Corinth and everywhere around and in between, sheriff’s offices and police departments are participating in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The campaign falls under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and urges residents to plan ahead and never drive after consuming alcohol, especially during a busy holiday travel period.
“Impaired driving is totally preventable, yet more than 12,000 people are killed each year because of someone selfishly decides to drive under the influence,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said. “Law enforcement officers nationwide are joining us to help stop impaired drivers and save lives. Make the responsible choice ahead of Labor Day weekend and plan ahead – arrange for a sober ride home. Yours is not the only life at stake.”
According to data from the NHTSA, nearly one third of all traffic crash fatalities in the U.S. involve drunk drivers involve drivers with a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit.
NHTSA is supplementing the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign with two additional messages “Drive High, Get a DUI” and “Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over.” The former is intended to remind drivers that driving under the influence of marijuana or other drugs is still a crime, while the latter reminds motorcyclists not to drink and drive. 41% of riders who died in a single-motorcycle crash in 2023 were alcohol impaired, per the agency.
The initiative places additional law enforcement on the streets identifying and stopping impaired drivers. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is also planning to begin its annual Labor Day enforcement period next Friday, which will include an even higher level of patrol to keep roadways safe during the holiday.
