Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

NEWS RELEASE

August 18th, 2026

PORTSMOUTH, OH – Scioto County, Ohio — From August 19 through September 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be working alongside local law enforcement to deter drunk driving and prevent tragedies during the Labor Day holiday weekend. The message is clear: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

During the 2024 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. August 30 - 5:59 a.m. September 3), there were 505

traffic crash fatalities nationwide. Of these 505 fatalities, 34% (170) involved a drunk driver.

Seventy-seven percent of the impaired drivers killed had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of

.15 or higher. Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the

Labor Day holiday in 2024, 40% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.

“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe,

so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Sheriff David

Thoroughman. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the

message out that drunk driving is illegal and it kills. Let’s make this a partnership between law

enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this dangerous

behavior.”

If a driver intends to drink during a Labor Day festivity, he or she should plan ahead for a safe

ride home by securing a designated driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. They shouldn’t wait until

after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment and

endangers others on the road.

If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that

person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving,

friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If

anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.

For more information on impaired driving, visit NHTSA.gov/DrunkDriving.

cc: Local Radio & News Media