To combat late summer and Labor Day holiday impaired driving, state officials have created a task force to increase enforcement and messaging about the dangers of driving drunk.
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs through Sept. 1, is a collaboration with the Michigan State Police (MSP) and county and municipal law enforcement agencies to try to and stop crashes involving impaired drivers.
“Impaired driving is totally preventable, yet more than 12,000 people are killed each year because someone selfishly decides to drive under the influence. Law enforcement officers nationwide are joining us to help stop impaired drivers and save lives,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said in a release.
Officials say from mid-August through the holiday they see an uptick in crashes involving drivers who are under the influence. During the heightened enforcement period, officers will be focusing on motorists who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
“Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after you’ve been drinking or taking drugs endangers you, your passengers and everyone else on the road,” said Alicia Sledge, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). “We are encouraging people to make the right choice and find a sober ride home if they plan on consuming substances that impair driving abilities.”
One person is killed about every 42 minutes in a drunk driving crash, totaling more than 12,000 lives lost each year, the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration says. In 2023, 30% of all traffic fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
From 2019 to 2023 there were a total of 44 driver fatalities in traffic crashes in Michigan during the Labor Day holiday period.
Of those crashes, 43.2% were alcohol and/or drug-impaired, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) and a news release from MSP.
“I’ve seen first hand the heart-breaking devastation caused by poor decision-making of impaired drivers,” said Judge Brooks-Green, the chair of the Michigan Impaired Driving Task Force. “I’m honored and excited to be working alongside key stakeholders in traffic safety, including law enforcement agencies, community organizations, public health officials and other experts in the impaired-driving field, to help make our roads safer for everyone.”
Here’s what to know about the program and ways Michiganders can keep themselves safe this holiday season:
What blood alcohol concentration is illegal in Michigan?
It’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher in Michigan, the release says. Officers also have the right to arrest a person at any BAC level if they believe the driver is impaired.
How does alcohol affect your driving?
According to Michigan Medicine, as little as 0.02 BAC can affect your driving. Here’s how:
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BAC 0.02%: Decline in visual function, inability to perform two tasks at once, loss of judgment, altered mood.
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BAC 0.05%: Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track objects, difficulty steering, slower response time.
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BAC 0.08%: Reduced ability to concentrate, short-term memory loss, lack of speed control, impaired perception.
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BAC 0.10%: Deterioration in reaction time, reduced ability to maintain lane position, reduced ability to brake, slurred speech.
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BAC 0.15%: substantial impairment of vehicle control, loss of auditory information processing, loss of balance, vomiting may occur.
The numbers on drunk driving data in Michigan
According to a MIDTF report from 2023, in Michigan:
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Of the 1,021 fatal crashes, 272 (26.6%) were alcohol-involved and 230 (22.5%) were drug-involved.
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There were 8,817 alcohol-involved crashes (with 297 fatalities) and 2,250 drug-involved crashes (with 256 fatalities). The alcohol-involved fatalities accounted for 27.1% of people killed (1,095).
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“Had Been Drinking” (HBD) injury crashes were highest in both June and July in 2023 (342 each), but the highest number of HBD fatal crashes (40) occurred in August.
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There were 1,589 (18.2%) drinking drivers in crashes who were 24 or younger.
Keeping safe during Labor Day weekend
According to a 2023 news release from the state’s Licensing and Regulatory Affairs office, to practice safe holiday drinking, Michiganders should:
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Never binge drink, generally defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in a two-hour period.
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Have a pre-set limit. Remember that no one can force you to have “just one more” — or even one drink.
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Have a plan beforeyou leave the house on how you’ll get home safely. Designate a sober driver to drive you home, or easily arrange for ride-share services by booking an Uber or Lyft through a phone app. Local taxicab operators are also just a phone call away.
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Never let a friend drive drunk. Take the keys away and arrange a safe way for them to get home.
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If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911 to reach law enforcement.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign in Michigan. Why police are targeting drinkers