This holiday season, the Virgin Islands Police Department/Office of Highway Safety (VIPD/VIOHS) is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to remind all drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving. They’ll be working together to remind everyone of the importance of planning a sober ride home before heading out to enjoy the holiday festivities.
The Impaired Driving campaign focuses on safety education, strong laws, and law enforcement officers saving lives. If you plan on drinking, plan on not driving. According to NHTSA, 10,511 of the 2018 crash fatalities occurred in crashes during which a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of .08. That’s nearly 1 person every 48 minutes. In the USVI we had 4 fatalities in 2018 and thus far 3 in 2019 due crashes involving a drunk driver. The holidays prove to be extra dangerous to drivers as there are increased festivities during the holiday season.
Commissioner Trevor Velinor reminds everyone that: “The holidays are a special time for every community, and it’s more important than ever for us to stress the importance of safe driving habits. We are aware that everyone is rushing around, finishing those last-minute errands and attending various holiday parties. Drinking and driving should never be combined. It’s essential to plan a sober ride in advance if the holiday celebration will include alcohol. The alternative could change your life, not to mention the lives of your passengers, of pedestrians, or of other drivers and passengers nearby. Help us spread the message: Even one drink is one drink too many. So, this holiday season, and every day, remember: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”; If You Feel Different, You Drive Different; Drive High – Get a DUI”.
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season from the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety!
