BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is teaming up with law enforcement across the state in an effort to get drunk drivers off the roads. Starting today through September 4, officers will beholding more patrols to reduce drunk driving on Idaho roads.
The effort comes as Labor Day gets closer, marking the end of the summer driving season known as the 100 Deadliest Days of Driving. This is the time between Memorial Day weekend and Labor day when there is an increase in traffic fatalities across the country.
“Drunk driving is a very dangerous behavior and there is no excuse for it,” said ITD Highway Safety Manager John Tomlinson. “We lose too many of our friends and neighbors to these drunk driving crashes.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,874 people were killed in drunk driving crashes across the country in 2017. 80 of those were killed in Idaho, with 28 happening during the summer.
“People want to get out and enjoy those last days of summer. Whatever your plans are for the end of summer, please plan to have a sober ride,” Tomlinson said.
Tomlinson recommends even if you have only had one alcoholic drink to designate a sober driver or plan on using alternate transportation such as a cab or ride sharing service.
ITD also reminds you that if you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
