Highway Patrol: celebrate responsibly this holiday season

By: 
Press Staff Writer

        The holidays are a time for caring and sharing, which is why the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is partnering with Sandusky County Highway Patrol to share the message about the dangers of drunk driving.
        This holiday season, from Dec. 13 through Jan. 1, 2020, law enforcement will participate in the high-visibility national enforcement campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” During this period, local law enforcement will show zero tolerance for drunk driving. Increased state and national messages about the dangers of driving impaired, coupled with enforcement and increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce drunk driving on our nation’s roadways.
        Sandusky County Highway Patrol is giving fair warning to all partygoers. “You’ll see us making lots of stops during this highly visible enforcement period, and if we suspect anyone is driving while intoxicated, officers will show zero tolerance for drunk driving,” said Lt. Brent Meredith, Fremont Post Highway Patrol.
        The excitement and celebrations of the holiday season can lead to terrible decisions – and serious legal consequences. Data shows that the holiday season is a particularly deadly time due to the increased number of drunk drivers on the roads, and the Sandusky County Highway Patrol is prepared to stop and arrest any drunk driver they see to keep roads safe.
        “The holidays should be an enjoyable time for our community members, not a marker for the death of a loved one due to a drunk-driving crash,” said Bethany Brown, Sandusky County Public Health Commissioner. “We need commitment from our community members that they’ll keep the streets free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday. This is a campaign to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal, and it takes lives. Help us put an end to this senseless behavior.”
        Follow these tips to keep the holidays safe and happy:
        • Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk — or worse, the risk of having a crash while driving.
        • If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead; designate a sober driver before the party begins or call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member.
        • Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
        • If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life.

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