The Lexington Police Department will conduct a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement event this Friday, August 23 from 9 p.m. – midnight at the intersection of Versailles Road and Red Mile Road.
Officers will be working to spot impaired drivers and vehicle occupants who are not wearing a seat belt, as well as children who are not properly restrained. Officers will be standing by to initiate traffic stops on those vehicles observed in violation of Kentucky laws. Drunk and drug impaired drivers will be arrested, so “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
The goal of this event is to deter impaired driving and increase seat belt usage ahead of the Labor Day holiday.
There were more than 4,700 total collisions involving alcohol in Kentucky last year, resulting in more than 2,400 injuries and 87 fatalities. During the Labor Day holiday weekend, there were 63 crashes involving alcohol, resulting in 26 injuries.
“We aggressively watch for drunk drivers and seat belt violations year-round. Participation in the ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign allows us the opportunity to join with police departments from around Kentucky dedicated to making our roadways safer during the Labor Day holiday,” said Sgt. David Flannery II.
Of the 725 highway fatalities in Kentucky last year, 52.8% were not wearing a seat belt. When worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of fatalities by 45 percent for front-seat vehicle occupants and by 60 percent for pickup truck, SUV and minivan occupants according to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.
In 2018, Lexington Police officers arrested 973 impaired drivers and issued 3,320 citations for seat belt violations. The Lexington Police Department participates in federal highway safety grants funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and this event is an NHTSA requirement for all grantees.
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