The Fourth of July is a time to commemorate the nation’s birth, and over the next few days, plenty of events have been planned in El Dorado to celebrate the holiday.
For many people, holiday festivities often involve alcoholic beverages.
To help make sure residents and visitors celebrate safely and responsibly, the El Dorado Police Department has joined a nationwide mobilization campaign that targets drunk driving.
“Get Sober or Get Pulled Over” began Friday and will continue until July 8.
It is the third such campaign in which the EPD has participated within the past two months.
In April, police targeted impaired drivers and in May, law enforcement officers across the country cracked down on unrestrained driving with the “Click It or Ticket: Day & Night” mobilization effort.
For “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”, EPD Lt. Kenny Hickman said the department will step up enforcement on city streets with a zero-tolerance policy for those who drive impaired.
“It’s essential that our community members understand the safety and financial risks they take when they drink and drive,” Hickman said.
He offered some statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Between July 2 and July 6 in 2016, 188 people on the nation’s highways were killed in crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least .08, the legal limit to drive.
The crashes occurred between 6 p.m., July 2 and 5:59 a.m., July 6.
The number of fatalities increased from 146 during the same period in 2015.
“That’s 188 families who will forever remember Independence Day with a heavy heart and nightmarish memories,” Hickman said.
“Under no circumstances is it ever acceptable to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after you’ve been drinking,” he continued. “Doing so endangers you and everyone else on the road with you. If you’re heading to or from Fourth of July parties this summer, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
According to information provided by the NHSTA, 37,461 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2016.
Twenty-eight percent — 10,497 — of those fatalities occurred in crashes during which the driver had a BAC that exceeded the legal limit.
Law enforcement officials noted that nighttime driving can be more dangerous during the Fourth of July because many holiday events wrap up in the evening or at night, meaning that more automobiles are on the roads at that time.
The NHSTA reported that during the holiday period in 2016, the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers who were involved in fatal crashes was more than three times higher at night than during the day.
Hickman noted that the legal BAC limit of .08 is recognized in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
“This should not come as a surprise to people in this country,” he said. “But since people aren’t getting it and thousands of people are still dying as a result of this behavior year after year, we will be patrolling over the holiday season, and we will accept absolutely zero excuses.”
During the “Driving High? Kiss Your License Goodbye!” in April, El Dorado police arrested one person for impaired driving.
A total of 18 custodial arrests were made and 29 traffic citations were issued. Seven of the arrests were drug related, giving officers another cause to remain vigilant, Hickman said.
He shared some tips to stay safe during the Fourth of July. They include:
• Designate a sober driver before heading out for the evening.
• If you plan on drinking, plan on not driving.
• Remember that it is never OK to drink and drive. Even if you’ve only had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride-sharing service.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call the EPD.
• Have a friend who’s about to drink and drive. Take away the keys and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
• Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app — available on Google Play for Android devices and Apple’s iTunes Store for iOS devices.
SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.