OTC’s Safe Communities Coalition stresses importance of safe driving
News | Published on December 17, 2024 at 3:26pm EST | Author: frazeevergas
0During the festive season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Otter Tail County’s Safe Communities Coalition, and the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office are urging drivers to stay safe with a simple but critical reminder: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI.
This high-visibility impaired driving awareness campaign runs from December 11, 2024, through January 1, 2025. Drivers can expect to see law enforcement officers actively working to keep the roads safe by identifying and removing drug-impaired drivers.
“This is a special time of year, and we are urging drivers to be serious about safe driving. Impaired driving is illegal and deadly,” said Sergeant Allen Mekash. “We cannot overstate the importance of abstaining from driving after using drugs. If you plan to use, plan for a sober driver. No excuses. During this high-visibility period, we will monitor drivers and enforce impaired-driving laws.”
Research shows that drug use, including marijuana, significantly impairs driving abilities by slowing reaction times, impairing cognitive performance and reducing the ability to maintain a steady lane position. Impaired driving puts everyone at risk, including passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians.
Plan for a safe holiday season
If you plan to use alcohol or drugs or consume impairing medications, always arrange for a designated sober driver or alternative transportation.
If you cannot drive, hand your keys to a sober driver to ensure you get home safely.
If a friend is under the influence and plans to drive, take their keys and help them find a sober ride home.
If you spot an impaired driver, report it immediately by contacting the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office at 218-998-8555.
“Driving under the influence of drugs—even legal or prescription drugs—is a choice that could have life-altering consequences,” Mekash added.
Join NHTSA and the Otter Tail County Safe Communities Coalition in spreading the lifesaving message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI.
For more information on the dangers of impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving. To become involved in Otter Tail County’s Safe Community Coalition, visit www.ottertailcounty.gov/scc/