HARTFORD/LYME/OLD LYME — This holiday season, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is joining State and local law enforcement to share the message about the dangers of impaired driving. Motorists will see increased law enforcement presence on Connecticut roadways beginning tonight until January 1, 2024, to take impaired drivers off the roads.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2021, the last year of verifiable data, 13,384 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. This represented 31% of all traffic fatalities in the United States for the year and more than a 14% increase from 2020. In December 2021 alone, 1,013 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.

In Connecticut in 2021, the last year of verifiable data, 112 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes, which accounted for nearly 40% of all fatalities in the state.

“Through the winter holiday season, Connecticut law enforcement will participate in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over impaired driving enforcement campaign. This enforcement period will feature state and national messages about the dangers of impaired driving, coupled with increased patrols aimed at drastically reducing drunk and drugged driving on our roadways,” said CT DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “Drunk or drugged driving is never acceptable. Across the country, a person is killed every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash. We need a commitment from every driver to drive sober so that everyone can have a safe holiday.”

“There is no place on Connecticut’s roadways for any driver under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating substance. Connecticut police officers are sworn to keep our roadways safe for all to use and will be arresting any driver who chooses to operate a vehicle while intoxicated,” said Watertown Police Chief and Chairman of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Traffic Safety Committee Josh Bernegger. “Please designate a sober driver so we all can get home safely this holiday season.”

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 CT DOT recommends these safe alternatives to driving impaired:

• Always designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely. Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive.
• Keep a safe distance from erratic drivers. If you encounter a drunk driver on the road, dial 911 to report the issue.
• Do not let anyone drive impaired. If you notice someone preparing to drive after consuming alcohol, take their keys away and plan to get them home safely.

For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period, visit nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release issued Dec. 15 by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.