NHTSA, MADD unveil 6th annual pre-Labor Day "Over the Limit. Under Arrest." enforcement campaign

Safety is always DOT's first priority. This morning, joined by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) President Laura Dean-Mooney and Fairfax County Police Captain Susan Culin, I was proud to help kick-off the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and MADD 6th annual end-of-summer enforcement campaign against impaired driving, "Drunk Driving: Over the Limit, Under Arrest."

The message has to get out: Impaired driving is a crime, and it will not be tolerated.

These drivers are really "a common threat," as Captain Culin said today--to drivers, to passengers, to bystanders, and to the loving survivors left behind by the nearly 12,000 fatalities each year caused by impaired drivers.

Now, impaired driving is an issue that cuts across all segments of society but, sadly, as Laura Dean-Mooney and I noted today, the number of arrests of women driving under the influence is on the rise.

As we head into the last weeks of summer and Labor Day weekend, millions of American families will hop in their cars and head off to the beach, the lake, the mountains, the park, and elsewhere for some
late-summer fun. Wherever your vacation plans take you, we want you to arrive safely.

But, to hear that impaired driving caused 40% of all fatal crashes last Labor Day weekend--it's very, very disturbing. So, we’re putting all drivers on notice that between August 21st and September 7th, our annual late-summer enforcement crackdown on impaired drivers will be in full force.

All around the country, 11,000 police departments and other law enforcement agencies will redouble their efforts to ensure that impaired drivers are detected and arrested during this high-risk travel season.

This is the sixth year in a row that the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration has worked with state and local law enforcement agencies and MADD to spread the message around Labor Day that if you’re “over the limit, you’re under arrest.”

This is a matter of life and death. We take it very seriously. And we’re very grateful to the law enforcement community and MADD for their support and hard work over the years.

So, please: Drive safely. Stay sober behind the wheel. And enjoy the last weeks of summer with your loved ones.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

Drinking and driving around the holidays is always a major problem. But with 40% of traffic fatalities last Labor Day caused by drunk drivers, it sounds like an out of control problem in parts of the country. I think California has one of the taughest drunk driving laws in the country. And that combined with a good outreach program and alternative transportation provided to drunk drivers during holiday periods so they don't drive has really had a positive impact here. It is not the law alone that has an impact. It is also the outreach about it and the transpohrtation alternatives all together that has created the positive result. But every year some people sttill ignore all of this and still drink, drive and have accidents so real good, vigilant law enforcement is also critical. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[daniel r. olson, m.d.]

Dear Secretary LaHood,
Thanks for the words on DWI; we should get to common European limit of 0.05%, since well done research yrs ago shows impairment of ability begins at 0.04%.
On separate issue, is there a way to pass a law that ALL cell phones be GPS equipped? My idea is that, as with GPS systems such as Garmin Nuvi, the device can list your real-time car speed...so here's the wrinkle: phone mfrs would be required to make the phones disable TEXTING if the GPS-in-phone 'brain' detected the car going faster than, say, 5 mph.
Driver and passengers would be blocked from sending OR receiving texts UNTIL stopped...I was nearly deleted by a woman texting as she zoomed past me in her Hummer at 55 mph. Good luck on this one...maybe a similar block could be put in for phonecalls...I'm sure you're well familiar with the great New Engl Jrnl Med article on cell phone usage, and how no method (hands free, etc) prevents the dwi-like distraction for the driving task at hand.
Thanks
Dan R. Olson, MD (pathologist, ret'd)
PS a bonus idea of mine (?1980) (promo/bumper sticker):
"You'll only need your seatbelt once...GUESS when."
PSS--are you related to Tom Lahood of Omaha (Union Pac PR man, ret'd)?...know you're not on the family tree of the dastardly (Richard Dysart-ly) Coy LaHood in Eastwood's "Pale Rider".

[railwayist]

The most efficient way to deal with Drinking & Driving is simple:
Separate the two activities by providing PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
Had one drink too many?---Take transit or a taxi if a designated driver is unavailable.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT needs the backing of Lawyers, Lawmakers, Prosecutors, Judges, Local Police and State Police Departments, County Sheriffs and local, county, state and US Courts & Criminal Justice System instead of the current approach of costly legal, court and sentencing game utilized as punishment for drinking & driving.
The present system is geared as a lucrative profit centre, is hypocritical, very-very costly in human lives and a total failure.
SAVE LIVES:
SEPARATE DRINKING & DRIVING WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

[Robert Meeks]

I have heard the expression, I guess on radio or television before, though it stuck with me more when I had seen it several times on an interstate display sign while driving on I-65 in Western Kentucky this past week.

Though I did not recognize what it meant, seeing it on here it stands out and makes one realize (at least to me) that the large displays over the interstate displaying the message gets one to take notice; I would presume that sends a message that the police are out there looking and hopefully that gets the message across not to drink and drive.

[Drink Driving Offence]

I was there, it was a great speech, and he is right, tougher punishments for all rulebreakers, it just makes sense!

[drink driving ban]

I think strong laws and punishments are definitely justified for drink driving incidents. It is such a stupid crime to commit and so easily avoided!

[Driving Offence Solicitor]

The problem with drunk drivers is that they feel if they are caught, they will simply get a slap on the wrist. There should be toughter rules imposed to make it more difficult to avoid a driving ban.

[Miles]

I understand the dangers of driving under the influence and have lost friends due to drinking and driving... The thing is... People keep drinking and driving.

I agree with Daniel Olsen that we need to offer alternatives for people... Free shuttle services, extended public transportation services, etc.

[serial numbers]

My idea is that, as with GPS systems such as Garmin Nuvi, the device can list your real-time car speed...so here's the wrinkle: phone mfrs would be required to make the phones disable TEXTING if the GPS-in-phone 'brain' detected the car going faster than, say, 5 mph.

[Annuity Rates]

I agree with the earlier comments that there should be tougher penalties for this sort of offense. In the US you can be caught more than once before you are banned. In the UK, it is an immediate 12 month ban.

[Oscar James]

I think this proves that the US is still someway behind the UK in terms of the penalties for drink driving. I think this is partly due to Americans being more reliant on cars compared with other forms of transport.