Office of Highway Safety encourages motorists to ‘plan a ride’ this holiday season

– Story & Photo Special to WEKY AM 1340 –

The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) is joining law enforcement agencies throughout the nation to promote the holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign today through Jan. 1, 2017.

“While the holiday season is a special time to visit with friends and family, many of these celebrations include alcohol. That is not the problem,” said KOHS Executive Director Dr. Noelle Hunter. “The problem occurs when motorists decide to get behind the wheel after drinking.”

The KOHS is utilizing the campaign to encourage making a plan before the party begins. 

“We enlisted Santa’s help to remind motorists to plan for a safe ride home,” said Hunter. “No matter what you choose – a sober friend, taxi service or ride booking company – we want you to arrive safely.”

Images of Santa with the slogan “He sees you when you’re drinking” are at gas stations and bars/restaurants in 29 counties throughout the state. Additionally, mirror clings of jail bars are in various bars and restaurants, reflecting to potential offenders their arrested image behind bars. Patrons are encouraged take a photo and post to social media that “#jailbars won’t happen to me because I chose to #planaride.”

“Our campaign is a fun way to promote a serious message that if you don’t ‘plan a ride,’ it’s ‘jail bars’ for you,” said Hunter.

Also during the campaign, state and local law enforcement will be out in force. The KOHS distributes federal grant money provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to increase law enforcement presence during designated holiday periods. 

“While we always patrol for impaired drivers, we have extra officers on the road as motorists travel to and from their Christmas and New Year’s celebrations,” said Sergeant Randall Combs of the Lexington Police Department. “If you are caught driving while impaired, you will be arrested. Please, make a plan for a designated driver.”

Last year, more than 5,900 crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs in Kentucky resulted in more than 3,100 injuries and 162 fatalities. More than 550 of those crashes occurred in December, resulting in 282 injuries and 20 fatalities.