TRENTON, NJ – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, in collaboration with the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS), announced today the commencement of the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Year-End Holiday Campaign. The initiative, which begins today and continues through January 1, 2024, aims to reduce the number of fatal and serious crashes caused by impaired driving during the holiday season.
The campaign is backed by over $795,000 in grant funding allocated to 132 police agencies throughout New Jersey. This financial support will enable more intensive enforcement efforts, including saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints, to detect and deter alcohol or drug-impaired drivers.
Attorney General Platkin emphasized the critical importance of the campaign, stating that driving while impaired is a grave decision with significant consequences. He highlighted the initiative’s role in enhancing law enforcement efforts to ensure road safety and protect families during the holidays.
During the 2022 holiday season, New Jersey witnessed 69 fatalities in crashes involving impaired driving. Nationally, according to NHTSA data, over 4,500 fatalities occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in December from 2017 through 2021, including 1,013 deaths in December 2021 alone.
Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the HTS, stressed the severe legal and moral repercussions of driving under the influence. Last year’s campaign resulted in 574 impaired driving arrests and numerous citations for seatbelt, distracted driving, speeding, and other violations.
As the festive period nears, New Jersey officials urge residents and visitors to celebrate responsibly and adhere to the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” commitment. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.NJSafeRoads.com.