Maui “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign Underway

PC: file Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation

The Maui Police Department launches it’s 2018 Holiday Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign today, Dec. 14, 2018. Starting today, motorists will see enhanced traffic enforcement with a focus on impaired driving.

In addition to increased impaired driving enforcement, the public can also expect to see officers proactively enforcing speeding, seat belt and cell phone/texting laws as well as violators running red traffic lights.

According to Maui police, nearly 30% of all traffic crash fatalities in the US involve drunk drivers (with blood alcohol concentrations of .08 or higher). In 2017, 10,874 people were killed in these preventable crashes. On average, more than 10,000 people died each year from 2013 to 2017 in drunk-driving crashes. To put it in perspective, police say that’s equal to about 20 jumbo jets crashing each year, with no survivors.

“Even one drink can be one too many. The only way to truly avoid a DUI is to drive completely sober,” police said. Department officials say there are many ways to get home safely after drinking. “If someone you know is about to drive after drinking, take their keys and help them get home safely. We must work together to make our roadways safe this holiday season and all year round,” police said in a press release announcement.

Maui police are asking drivers to follow the following tips to keep everyone safe:

• If you know you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead and designate a sober driver beforehand.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi, Uber, Lyft, phone a sober friend or family member or use our public transportation system.
• Remember a sober driver isn’t the person who drank the least. It’s someone who didn’t drink at all.

“With marijuana use and drugged driving on the rise across the country, it is important to keep watch for all forms of impaired driving. We will be increasing our enforcement patrols and intoxication control checkpoints following a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of impaired driving. You could face jail time, fines, loss of your driver’s license and other related expenses,” police said.