As the holiday season is almost here, the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office, a member of the Defiance County Safe Communities Coalition, reminds all drivers to drive safe over the winter holidays. With increased road activity, it’s crucial to remember: drinking and driving endangers everyone on the road. Let’s keep our roads safe and celebrate responsibly!
NHTSA and local law enforcement have an important reminder for everyone: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. This campaign to raise awareness about impaired driving runs from December 11, 2024, to January 1, 2025. During the holidays, officers will be out in full force, working together to keep our roads safe by stopping drunk drivers. Let’s all do our part to protect lives and enjoy a safe holiday season!
The holidays are a time for celebration, but safety comes first. Sadly, during December from 2018 to 2022, 4,759 people lost their lives in crashes caused by drunk driving. In December 2022 alone, 1,062 lives were cut short in these preventable tragedies. Men and young drivers are especially at risk. In December 2022, drunk male drivers were involved in fatal crashes more often (22%) than female drivers (16%). Drivers aged 21-34 made up the largest group (25%) of alcohol-impaired drivers in deadly crashes.
“Drunk driving is not only illegal—it’s deadly,” said Sheriff Doug Engel. “We want everyone to enjoy the holidays, but that means making responsible choices. There are so many safe ways to get home—use them,” he emphasized.
Here’s how to stay safe: Plan ahead: If you’ll be drinking, decide how you’ll get home before you start; Choose a sober ride: Arrange for a sober driver, taxi, or rideshare; Give up your keys: If you’re too impaired to drive, hand over your keys to someone sober; Help friends: Don’t let someone who’s been drinking get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help them find a sober ride; Report drunk drivers: If you see someone driving drunk, call local law enforcement.
Let’s work together to keep our roads safe and make sure everyone gets to enjoy a happy holiday season! For more information regarding traffic safety efforts, visit the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office website at defiance-county.com/dcso/ , the Safe Communities webpage at defiancecohealth.org/traffic-safety, or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DefianceCountySheriff/.