Drive Sober - Drive Safe this Labor Day Weekend

With the upcoming Labor Day weekend, Oklahomans and out-of-state visitors are sure to be on the roads headed to our beautiful lakes, rivers, and other locations to enjoy the holiday. With this in mind, the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety want to remind drivers to always drive sober and drive safe.

In 2020, six people were killed during the Labor Day holiday period. There were a total of 502 crashes, with 53 of those being alcohol and/or drug related. Six people were also killed during the 2019 holiday weekend. We want to see these numbers decrease for 2021.

"There is no excuse for driving impaired or distracted, these crashes are completely avoidable," said Cody McDonell, communications manager for the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office. "We want to remind everyone to never drive after they've been drinking or using any type of impairing drugs such as prescription medication, marijuana, and illicit drugs."

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, along with law enforcement from around the state, will be hitting the roads this weekend looking for impaired drivers.

"Hundreds of people are killed in Oklahoma each year by impaired drivers," said Trooper Eric Foster with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. "I was recently struck by a driver who was under the influence of many substances and had no business behind the wheel," said Trooper Foster.

To support the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will partner with the Pryor and Chouteau police departments, Mayes County Sheriff's Office, and the Grand River Dam Authority to patrol the Pryor area before, during, and after the Rocklahoma concert event.

Oklahomans have to work together to make sure their friends and family members will be here to celebrate the rest of this year's holidays by encouraging them to always drive sober. Not only could you hurt or kill yourself, you could potentially injure innocent other people by choosing to drive impaired. It's dangerous, and it's illegal.

If you think getting a cab or a rideshare service is too expensive, consider this: In Oklahoma, a DUI conviction costs the offender an average near $10,000. A DUI conviction on your record could lead to a lifetime of issues including possible lost employment opportunities.

Still think that $10 ride is too expensive?

Another group of people who hit the roads on Labor Day weekend are

motorcyclists. In 2020, 21 crashes involved motorcycles. Fortunately, no motorcyclists were killed, but three were seriously injured. Two of these crashes were listed as alcohol-related crashes.

When you're on the roads, look twice for motorcycles. Give them plenty of space on the roads, motorcycles can stop quicker than other vehicles. When turning onto a roadway, be sure to look for motorcycles who may be approaching. Their smaller size often makes it more difficult to judge how fast they are traveling and how close they may actually be to you.

Each year, law enforcement from around Oklahoma team up to make our roads safer for everyone. This year is no exception. So far, more than 45 law enforcement agencies, including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, have signed up to participate in the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' national mobilization.

Be safe this holiday weekend, Oklahoma!