Coalition: Drive Sober campaign to take place over July 4 holiday

This year, Wyandot County will have many events and entertainment to offer families and friends for the Fourth of July, including local fireworks, musical events and parties. For many people, the celebration will include alcohol, which could make their holiday go from festive to fatal if they choose to drive after drinking, according to a press release from the Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition.

To make the holiday a safe and happy time, the coalition and local law enforcement agencies are reminding partygoers to be responsible and designate a sober driver.

Over the Fourth of July holiday period in 2013, which lasted from 6 p.m. July 3 to 5:59 a.m. July 8, there were 199 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes on U.S. roads, the coalition said. In order to prevent fatalities and crack down on drunk driving this Fourth of July, area law enforcement will be aggressively targeting those who drive while impaired.

According to Wyandot County Sheriff Mike Hetzel, local deputies and law enforcement agencies are ramping up enforcement and will be out in full force to make roads safer this Fourth of July.

“Don’t make the flashing lights from our cruisers or, even worse, the lights from an ambulance, be the only light show you get to enjoy this Fourth of July,” he said. “If a person doesn’t care that they put themselves and the public in danger when they drink and drive, then it shouldn’t bother them to spend the holiday weekend in jail. It’s as simple as that.”

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign means zero tolerance for drunk driving with no excuses, the sheriff said.

The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office offered the following tips to prevent drunk driving:

— Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.

— Before drinking, designate a sober driver.

— Those who are impaired should call a sober friend or family member for a ride.

— Anyone who sees a drunk driver on the road is encouraged to contact a local law enforcement agency.

— Those who know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired should take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.