The South Carolina Department of Public Safety kicked off its “Drink. Drive. Die.” Sober or Slammer! campaign Friday, August 16th that will run through Labor Day, September 2nd, with increased enforcement and paid media to curb impaired driving as people celebrate the last days of summer.
The period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is typically one of the deadliest times on South Carolina roadways and is referred to by law enforcement as the “100 Deadly Days of Summer.” As summer comes to a close, preliminary statistics are showing about a 19 percent decrease in fatalities this summer compared to 2018. So far in 2019, 188 people have died traveling South Carolina roadways since Memorial Day, compared to 232 in 2018.
In the weeks prior to Labor Day, state and local law enforcement agencies including the Hartsville Police Department will intensify their efforts to crack down on drunk driving and reduce DUI-related traffic deaths in South Carolina. Each year, state and local law enforcement partner for an impaired driving crackdown that runs as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The goal is to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities caused by motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
SC Highway Patrol urges motorists to call *HP or *47 if they see someone they suspect is driving impaired. Signs can include: driving erratically, weaving in and out of lanes, driving too fast or too slowly, crossing the center line, or briefly drifting off the roadway.
Please don’t drink and drive, be sure to get a designated driver if you choose to drink, and as always, BUCKLE UP!