Drunk Drivers Beware: Kentucky Police ARE Taking Prisoners
On average, drunk drivers (or drivers otherwise impaired) kill 13,000 people each year in the United States in auto accidents. In Kentucky alone last year, there were approximately 6,000 alcohol-related car wrecks, resulting in over 2,200 injuries and 182 deaths.
A nationwide crack-down on drinking and driving is underway, running from August 21 through Labor Day, and Kentucky law enforcement is fully participating and taking it very seriously. It's called Drunk Driving: Over the Limit Under Arrest, and Kentucky officials are giving motorists fair warning: If you get pulled over and you've been drinking or are impaired by medication or drugs, you will be arrested and taken to jail.
The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is spearheading the effort to keep Kentucky's roads safe over the often deadly Labor Day weekend. Much of the tragedy that comes from drunk driving could be prevented if everyone would follow a few simple precautions, according to KOHS:
1. Plan ahead and have a designated driver, call a taxi, or a sober friend or family member.
2. If someone you know is about to drive while impaired, take the keys.
3. If you see an impaired driver on the road, call the police.
4. Wear your seat belt while in the car or use a helmet and protective gear when on a motorcycle, as these are your best defenses against an impaired driver.
More information on highway safety in Kentucky is available at http://highwaysafety.ky.gov/ .
