Supporting Safe, Sober Driving over Labor Day

By Sun Advocate

As signs starting to indicate the end of summer begin to appear, shorter cooler days, children stocking up on school supplies, folks are trying to squeeze last minute summer activities into one short weekend.
This Labor Day weekend millions of people will take one final summer driving trip to relax and enjoy a long weekend with family and friends, attending picnics, barbecues, and fireworks displays before its back to work for everyone. Throughout Utah, extra law enforcement will be joining motorists on this journey. The intent is to make driving safer this holiday weekend by removing impaired and other dangerous drivers from local streets, roads, highways and interstates.
Thousands of state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety officials across the nation will launch an aggressive national “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest,” enforcement mobilization to crack down on drunk driving throughout the Labor Day weekend.
The Utah Safety Council recommends these simple safety tips.
•Don’t Drink and Drink. If you plan to consume alcohol, designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.
•If you’re impaired. Call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to drive you home safely or stay where you are.
•Promptly report drunk drivers on the roadways to law enforcement.
•Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride a motorcycle while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get home.
Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk. The human toll is only half the picture. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses.
The Utah Safety Council encourages everyone to have a safe and fun holiday. Remember that whatever the activity, protect yourself and your family by practicing safe habits.