Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has a strong message for drivers over the holidays — “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” Recognizing that this period is fraught with additional risk of accidents and injuries (or even deaths), police throughout the state are out in force over this extended holiday weekend as part of a national safety campaign.
Last year, over the holidays from Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. to 12 midnight on Dec. 28, 14 individuals lost their lives in wrecks during that 102-hour period. Statistics for the state of Georgia in the year 2014 showed that 165 people died in 8,931 accidents involving alcohol and another 5,250 were injured.
The director for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said, “This has been a rough year in Georgia for traffic fatalities and impaired driving.” Because Georgia is a zero tolerance state, those caught driving while impaired will be arrested and taken to jail.
While Georgia clearly has problems with impaired drivers, they are not alone. Nationally, in 2013, 10,076 individuals died in auto accidents where at least one driver was drunk. Just in December of that year, 733 people lost their lives in accidents involving drivers with blood alcohol content of at least .08. Of that total, 23 died on Christmas.
The GOHS reminds Georgia drivers that they can download a free smartphone app, “Drive Sober, Georgia,” for a list of both free and paid sober ride programs in their area. Through Jan. 2, free sober rides back home are available through AAA’s Tow To Go and Checker Cab.
If you have the misfortune of getting arrested on drunk driving charges over the holidays, it is never too soon to begin planning your defense strategies.
Source: gahighwaysafety.org, “Operation Zero Tolerance,” accessed Jan. 01, 2016