(Des Moines) Last year, during the final weeks of summer, there were 54 traffic fatalities in Iowa, with 44% involving impairment. To prevent future tragedies, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is collaborating with law enforcement across the state to reduce impaired driving. From August 16 to September 2, agencies will participate in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement project. During this time, officers will work together to remove impaired drivers and motorcycle riders from the road.
Randy Kunert, GTSB’s Law Enforcement Liaison, emphasized the importance of keeping people safe by asking everyone to make a plan. The Drive Sober/Ride Sober campaign aims to raise awareness about the illegality of impaired driving and its devastating consequences.
Several options are available to ensure impaired drivers get home safely, including designating a sober driver, calling a taxi or rideshare service, or using the community’s sober ride program. You are urged to contact local law enforcement if you witness a drunk driver or rider on the road. Using federal grants, GTSB collaborates with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce deaths and injuries on Iowa’s roadways.
