Kentucky’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign continues through New Year’s Day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, impaired driving crashes tend to increase during the holidays. Over the last five years, 452 impaired driving-related crashes occurred during the Christmas and New Year holidays in the Commonwealth, resulting in 179 injuries and 11 deaths.
Lieutenant Kim Klare of Erlanger PD said in her career she and her officers have responded to an immense number of impaired driving crashes that have led to devastating damages and injuries.
“One of the hardest parts of our job is to knock on that door of the family to tell them that their loved one won’t be returning home anymore. Those moments never leave you. It’s a stark reminder that every decision made behind the wheel of a car has the power to change lives forever,” said Klare. “Our officers across Kentucky through collaborative efforts with the partners from NHTSA and Kentucky Office of Highway Safety are actively patrolling our roadways all year.”
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials said the state is on the verge of the lowest fatality count in the last ten years and it’s important to end the year on a high note.
Mike Hancock, Deputy Secretary of the KTC, said injuries and lives lost on state roads are tragedies that should never happen.
“When someone makes the decision to become intoxicated and then causes a highway fatality or injury, we call it what it is. It’s a crash, it wasn’t an accident. It had a specific cause and it was 100 percent preventable.”
Officials said it’s important to make a plan to get home before heading out to any events where alcohol will be served. They also recommend calling authorities if someone is suspected of driving impaired and buckling up.
