CTDOT Press Releases
12/21/2022
Don’t Wreck the Holidays: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
This holiday season, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Highway Safety Office is joining State and local law enforcement to share the message about the dangers of impaired driving. Drivers will see law enforcement working together from now until January 1, 2023, to take impaired drivers off the roads.
“Connecticut law enforcement will participate in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over impaired driving awareness campaign throughout the holiday season,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. “They will be patrolling for impaired drivers to keep our roads safe. If you are driving under the influence, you will be pulled over.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020.
“This enforcement period allows us to get the message out that driving under the influence is not just illegal - it takes lives,” added Giulietti. “It is essential to plan a sober ride home before you ever leave for a holiday party. There are many resources available to get you home safely.”
In Connecticut, driving with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 or higher is illegal. And the costs of being caught drinking and driving are high. An impaired driver could face jail time, lose their driver’s license and vehicle, and pay up to $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, higher insurance rates, and lost wages.
Driving impaired by any substance — alcohol or drugs, whether legal or illegal — is against the law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Even in states where cannabis laws have changed, it is still illegal to drive under the influence of the drug. Prescription and over-the-counter medications can also impair a motorist's ability to drive safely, and driving under the influence of over-the-counter medications is illegal.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
- Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
- If available, use a rideshare program or public transit.
- Contact local law enforcement if you see a drunk driver on the road.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
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