The enforcement of drunk driving is set to be heightened nationwide during the holiday weekend.
As we celebrate America’s day of independence, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding motorists that “buzzed driving is drunk driving.”
According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, between 2019 and 2023, there were more than 2,500 traffic fatalities in the U.S. during the 4th of July holiday period.
38% of those fatalities involved drunk drivers, with those aged 21-34 having 48% of deaths attributed to drunk driving.
Authorities urge those celebrating to set up a plan to get home safely prior to drinking, stating, “They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.”
Law enforcement agencies across the country and locally will be putting a strong focus on drunk driving enforcement throughout this 4th of July weekend.