As we look to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Law enforcement along with Mothers Against Drunk Driving urges the public to drive sober. The end of the year holidays are some of the most dangerous times to be on the road.

According to the NHTSA, from 2013 to 2017, there were 4,110 people killed in December crashes that involved drivers with BACs over the legal limit of .08 .

Multiple police agencies across the metro will be stepping up their enforcement efforts tonight to remove impaired drivers from the roadways. “We will be out on high alert, seeking out drunk drivers tonight and will show zero tolerance for anyone driving drunk” said Sgt. Bentch, Kansas City Police Department DUI Unit Supervisor.

Leann Briggs, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Heartland Chapter Leader, urges the community, “If your plans tonight involve alcohol, make a plan how to get home safely before taking the first sip. Please take advantage of the many options for getting home safely — a designated, non-drinking
driver, rideshare, taxi or public transportation. And please don’t forget to buckle up, it’s your best defense against an impaired driver.”

WHY: Despite a nearly 50 percent decline in drunk driving deaths since MADD was founded in 1980, over10,000 people are killed by drunk drivers and another 290,000 are injured in drunk driving crashes every year. In fact, two out of three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime. Sadly, every two minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash. Join us in creating a future of No More Victims®.