Michigan law enforcement cracks down on impaired driving with holiday campaign

Michigan – As the holiday season ushers in festive cheer, it also brings an unwelcome spike in impaired driving-related incidents. Michigan law enforcement departments have started their annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign to fight this major problem. The campaign officially started on December 11, 2024, and will last through January 1, 2025. The campaign responds to startling numbers showing over 41% of all traffic deaths in Michigan last year included drugs or alcohol.

Michigan saw 2,250 drug-related incidents that resulted in 256 deaths and 8,817 alcohol-related crashes causing 297 deaths on the 2023 calendar year. These alarming numbers, from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, highlight the vital need of increased awareness and enforcement throughout the holiday seasons.

Michigan’s traffic enforcement departments will assign more patrols with a rigorous zero-tolerance stance for drunk driving in an attempt to guarantee road safety. This strengthened enforcement approach seeks to lower the high rates of accidents historically observed during this period, since social events and celebrations may result in higher consumption of alcohol.

The Director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), Katie Bower, underlined the dangers connected to festive behavior.

“Between family gatherings, office parties and festive events, alcohol consumption increases, and so does the risk of impaired driving,” Bower said in a release from earlier this month. “Driving while being impaired by alcohol or drugs not only puts you at risk but also endangers other drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”

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Historically, the holiday season has been particularly dangerous on Michigan roadways. Holiday crashes took 30 lives between 2019 and 2023; 43 percent of these deaths were related to alcohol or drug abuse.

Together with county sheriffs and other police agencies, Michigan State Police encourages everyone to celebrate responsibly. Law enforcement officers will be particularly vigilant for signs of impairment among drivers. Driving in Michigan with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08 is illegal; but, if an officer suspects impairment, any BAC level can result in an arrest.

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As Bower underlined, the campaign’s main objective is “drastically reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries resulting from impaired driving.” Funded by the OHSP, the statewide media campaign also aims to spread awareness of the risks of drunk driving and advocate better alternatives.

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month in December is an opportunity to honor those lost to drunk driving and remind all of us of our part in preventing such tragedies. Federal traffic safety funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsor the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, therefore stressing the country’s shared commitment to fight drunk driving.

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Interested individuals can visit the OHSP impaired-driving page for further information on the risks of drunk driving and suggestions on how to stay safe this holiday season.