This holiday season, please drive sober--ABSOLUTELY sober

The holiday season is well upon us. And like many of you, I’m looking forward to enjoying some time off and celebrating with my family and my grandchildren back home in Peoria.

My holiday wish for everyone is 'safety.'

So this morning, with DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier and the Metropolitan Police Department, I sent a reminder, as we do every year, that drinking and driving do not mix. Ever.

Look, we hold this "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" event every year because too many people continue to get behind the wheel after they’ve had a few drinks. And when they do, they put themselves and others in grave danger.

That is unacceptable.

Remember that even 'buzzed' driving is drunk driving.

And the risks are especially high this time of year, with more people on the roads at night, traveling to and from parties, shopping malls, and so on.

This month, with great support from the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Governors Highway Safety Association, we’re launching a national ad campaign on TV and radio to help local law enforcement agencies get drunk drivers off the road.

Our message is very clear: If we catch you driving while drunk, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you. No exceptions. No excuses.

I know that our local police officers and state troopers will do an amazing job patrolling our streets and highways this holiday season. As they always do.

But this isn’t just a law enforcement problem. It’s really about people taking responsibility for their own behavior.

It’s up to every single driver in this country--from the newly licensed to the most experienced--to turn the key in the ignition only when absolutely sober.

Thank you. And I wish everyone a very happy, healthy, safe holiday season.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

We need to do all we can to take drunk drivers off the highways this year. Some counties in California, including this one, have a program of free taxi trips home for drunk drivers until January 2ed. We also have sabriety checkpoints and more police patrols on the road. Still, nothing will stop someone who just does not care and will get behind the wheel and try to drive when drunk and then make dumb mistakes that can hurt themselves and other people. The police in addition to lookking hard for drunk drivers also need to be looking for people using cell phones and driving and ticket those persons. Using a cell phone and driving in California has been illegal since January eventhough the penalty is a ticket only. Lastly, we need to make sure as best we can that everyone on the highway this year wears their seatbelts and has their young children in approved child car seats. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Self Catering Somerset]

It will be a god send when all cars are able to drive themselves. In theory it will make the roads a much safer place and solve drink driving for good. In theory...