SIKESTON -- Declaring participation in the national August/Labor Day Holiday Crackdown "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" substance--impaired driving crackdown a major success, Sikeston Department of Public Safety reported more than 129 citations were issued, multiple related arrests were made, and at least one arrest for driving while intoxicated occurred during the enforcement period which ran from Aug. 18-Sept. 3.
"I am proud of our Officers for their hard work and dedication to making our region's roadways safer," said Chief Mike Williams. "Substance-impaired driving is more than a reckless choice by a few individuals. Each year, substance-impaired driving costs the lives of thousands on America's highways.
Preliminary data showed in 2016, there were 218 fatalities and 664 serious injuries that involved at least one substance-impaired driver. That equates to one substance-impaired driving fatality every 1-3/4 days.
During the holiday Aug. 19-Sept.5, 2016, 16 people were killed and 34 seriously injured which involved at least one substance-impaired driver. Sikeston Department of Public Safety joined forces with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and nearly 10,000 law enforcement agencies across the country in this year's "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign.
For more information, visit the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaign headquarters at www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov, or www.saveMOlives.com.