Law agencies plan to crack down on drunken driving over holiday

Garland County sheriff’s deputies, Hot Springs police and Arkansas State Police will be increasing their patrols to be “on guard against impaired drivers” over the July Fourth holiday weekend.

The holiday will be a “prolonged celebration” this year, as the nation’s birthday occurs on a Monday, a news release said. “Many Arkansas families will start their travel plans Friday to varied destinations over the following three days.”

With increased traffic anticipated, the risk of tragedy often attributed to a drunken driver also increases, the release said.

Local law enforcement agencies and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration remind drivers that “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving” but many people “think that driving after a few drinks is acceptable,” it said.

In 2020, more than 200 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period, with more than 85% of the crashes at night, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., according to the NHTSA.

“That’s over 200 people who could have made it home if everyone had planned ahead for a sober ride. If you celebrate Independence Day with alcohol and decide to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you aren’t just putting yourself in danger; you put everyone on the road at risk. Plan ahead for a safe and sober ride every time you drink,” the release saod.

“We want Arkansans to enjoy our nation’s birthday celebration, but not at the expense of making state highways, county roads, and city streets unsafe,” Col. Bill Bryant, director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s highway safety representative, said in the release.

“Unfortunately, far too many drivers make the wrong decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming one or two alcoholic drinks, or using drugs, placing other motorists in harm’s way. Our state troopers along with other law enforcement officers will be prepared to stop and arrest these dangerous drivers to ensure the safety of all,” he said.

The July Fourth holiday period is consistently one of the deadliest times of year on the nation’s roads. From 2016 to 2020, there were 901 people killed in drunken driving crashes over the holiday, the release states, with 39% of the drivers killed being alcohol-impaired and 51% between the ages of 21-34.

During the 2020 holiday period, 60% of those who died in alcohol-impaired crashes were in a crash involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol content at or above 0.15%, which is almost twice the legal limit in most states.

Visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving for more information.