“Drive sober or get pulled over.” That’s the message the Jasper Police Department is emphasizing as they prepare for the annual end-of-summer impaired driving enforcement campaign. From August 16 through September 2, officers with the Jasper Police Department will join forces with other law enforcement agencies across the state to increase patrols and conduct sobriety checkpoints, focusing on cracking down on those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (CJI).
“Driving drunk or drug-impaired is a problem for everyone,” said James Bryan, ICJI’s Traffic Safety Director. “Making the choice to operate a vehicle while impaired is never the right option.”
Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a significant cause of fatalities in Indiana. In 2023, around 20% of all traffic fatalities in the state involved alcohol impairment. Drug-impaired driving is also a major contributor to deadly crashes, with nearly a quarter of all traffic fatalities in 2023 involving drug impairment.
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Assistant Chief Aaron Persohn. “Help us protect the community and put an end to this senseless behavior.”
Drivers are urged to stay safe during the upcoming Labor Day holiday by planning ahead if they intend to drink. Even if you only have one drink, designate a sober driver or use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely. Never drive impaired or allow friends to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
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