Drew Dixon
Florida’s top law enforcement officials are advising motorists to keep sober on state roadways during the holiday season as they’ll be stepping up enforcement through New Year’s Day in response to a deadly festive season a year ago.
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning drivers to resist any temptations to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs during these days of festivities. State officials said there will be special deployments by law enforcement throughout the state during the holidays.
An effort to reduce impaired motorists during the holidays, operation “Drive Sober, or Get Pulled Over,” will be enforced throughout much of the state through Jan. 1.
Moody prepared a video message that is currently appearing on YouTube with her warnings about impaired driving.
“National Impaired Driving Prevention Month serves as a critical reminder to be responsible on our roadways. Driving under the influence can shatter lives and devastate families,” Moody said.
“Law enforcement will have extra deputies, officers and troopers monitoring the roadways to help ensure Floridians remain safe throughout this holiday season. So please, drive sober or you will get pulled over.”
Moody reinforced her warnings with some sobering statistics about impaired driving from the 2022 holiday season in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Crash Dashboard, the 2022 holiday season was particularly dangerous on roadways.
The dashboard shows there were 160 fatalities in Florida in December alone last year, which was a notable increase over 2021. The entirety of 2022 saw 6,200 impaired accidents in the Sunshine State resulting in more than 1,100 fatalities, said officials with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Florida Highway Patrol Col. Gary Howze said operation “Drive Sober, or Get Pulled Over” isn’t just about nabbing intoxicated drivers. There will be a widespread public awareness campaign as well.
“The goal is to proactively educate the public on the dangers and consequences of getting behind the wheel while impaired. The holiday season, when people are celebrating with friends and loved ones, increases the risk of impaired driving,” Howze said.
“With that increase, FHP and our law enforcement partners, will step up enforcement efforts to remove impaired drivers from Florida roadways so everyone can arrive alive,” Howze said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies across Florida along with the civilian organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving are also participating in “Drive Sober, or Get Pulled Over.”
Officials are also advising motorists to use the American Automobile Association motor club service “Tow to Go,” which provides a free confidential ride service for anyone who might be impaired. Motorists can go to the AAA website to get free rides.
Moody offered some additional tips including:
— Do not drive under the influence or permit others to drive under the influence.
— Establish a designated driver, call a cab or use a ride-sharing service if there is no designated driver.
— Fasten seatbelts when driving or riding in a vehicle.
— Avoid distracted driving, including texting while driving.
— Beware of the increase in impaired drivers — especially at night.
11 comments
Impeach Biden
December 14, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Just more WOKE BS.
I’ve been drinking and driving for YEARS and i’ve never hurt anybody.
Dont Say FLA
December 14, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Very funny, fake Impeach Biden, but the real Impeach Biden knows all his years of drinking gave him IBS. Plus your comment is on topic, so everybody knows it’s not really IBS.
JD
December 14, 2023 at 4:33 pm
I hope they catch you then. More than a can of beer and you’re f@cked.
The legal limit is .08 so unless your a 300 LBS bufoon, you’re over your legal limt with and it’s on your record for 75 years.
JD
December 14, 2023 at 4:35 pm
And I think they started “scarlet letters” license plates as well so you can get a police “escort from the behind” as well.
Impeach Biden
December 14, 2023 at 4:38 pm
LOL. Nothing is gonna happen to me.
Rick Whitaker
December 16, 2023 at 12:47 pm
jd, can you believe that someone can be as stupid as impeach biden is. that’s why i quit responding to him, he’s way beneath me, and you.
JD
December 16, 2023 at 8:09 pm
Yes, he’s quite a troll. I almost think he’s not real – as in FP’s plant to stir the shit pot for traffic from the comments.
Dont Say FLA
December 14, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Did Moody get FSU’s playoff snub all sorted and now she’s moved on to Mothers Against Drinking and .. really just Drinking?
I have yet to hear about MADD advocating for public transit, yet people around most of the USA having no choice but to drive everywhere they go. That’s the root cause for people driving drunk. It’s driving everywhere. People have been drinking forever, but there was never any issue until the motor vehicle came along and almost entirely displaced public transportation.
Yet MADD goes exclusively after booze usage, and never after car dependency. Therefore one can conclude they are just against drinking, but gussy up their complaint with presenting as a safety issue yet never addressing the issue in any direct, real way. What a surprise. They’re the OG MFL busybodies. All whine all the time, but it’s for everybody else, not them.
Cars are great. Cars are fun. Cars are a luxury, but we treat them as central to life.
Hi. It’s cars. They’re the problem. It’s cars.
Dont Say FLA
December 14, 2023 at 3:21 pm
Oh, and Heathers. Heathers are a big problem too.
JD
December 14, 2023 at 4:41 pm
That’s got more tendrils:
Affordable Housing
Walkable neighborhoods
Work – Live – Play cities
Green space
Liveable neighborhoods
JD
December 14, 2023 at 4:43 pm
All killed by the car, car culture, and car dependence.
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