Drive Sober
According to Florida’s 2021–2025 Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), one of every four traffic fatalities in Florida involves impaired driving. Every injury and death caused by drunk or drugged motorists is preventable.
Since 1997, the Northeast Florida District 2 Community Traffic Safety Program (CTSP) has promoted the highly effective Celebrate Safely, Designate A Driver campaign. This impaired driving initiative was created to help reduce alcohol-related traffic deaths and injuries throughout the holiday season.
Sobering Impaired Driving Facts:
- Alcohol involvement remains the leading factor in motor vehicle deaths.
- Impaired driving is a leading cause of death for people under 30.
- About 3 in every 10 Americans will be in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
- Alcohol is a depressant, which alters physical and mental coordination.
- Males are four times more likely than females to drive after drinking.
- An alcohol fatality occurs every 33 minutes; every 2 minutes, someone is injured.
- If you have been drinking, celebrate safely… designate a sober driver, take a cab, call a ride-share, or spend the night where you are.
The “Drive Safe and Drive Sober” message is key at any time of year, especially during the holidays.
The following are important safety tips and reminders:
- Before drinking alcohol, designate a non-drinking driver.
- Never let your friends drive impaired.
- Get a safe ride home – call a cab/ride-share/Uber/Lyft.
- If you’re hosting a party, offer alcohol-free beverages, serve food, and make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
The Northeast Florida CTSP focuses on SHSP strategies to reduce impaired driving through education, outreach, and insight into creating safer communities. The goal is zero fatalities.
We have created great recipe ideas for tasty nonalcoholic drinks, mocktails, and food to encourage responsible party hosting and raise awareness about traffic safety all year. Annually, we produce a seasonal “Recipes for the Road” recipe booklet with safety tips.
Free Social Media Graphics
Become a Community Traffic Safety Team “Virtual Volunteer“ and share these impaired driving images on your social media accounts. Don’t forget to follow and tag us! @trafficsafetyteam on Facebook and Instagram or @trafficsafetyfl on Twitter and Pinterest.
Recipes for the Road
Each booklet is full of great alcohol-free “mocktail” beverage, appetizer and desert recipes along with important traffic safety messages.
Click here to learn more and view previous years’ Recipes for the Road books.
Crime, Crash & Arrest Clock
Each year, on average, more than 10,000 people die on the road due to impaired driving. This tip card illustrates the crime, crash, and arrest statistics by hour, along with traffic safety guidelines.
Drunk or Drugged Driving is A Deadline Crime – Florida DUI Laws
- A blood or breath alcohol level of .08 is evidence that a person is under the influence of alcohol to the extent that normal faculties are impaired. Note: a person may be found guilty of DUI with a lower level.
- A blood or breath alcohol level for a commercial driver of .04 or above would disqualify a driver from operating a commercial vehicle for one year. Note: a driver of a commercial vehicle may be found guilty of a moving violation if found with any alcohol in his/her body.
- Anyone under 21 years of age with a blood or breath alcohol level of .02 or above found driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle will lose his/her driving privilege for six months. Note: a driver under 21 may be charged with DUI if the law enforcement officer determines that their faculties are impaired.
- By accepting and using a Florida driver license, a person agrees to submit to an approved chemical test or physical test, including but not limited to a breath or urine test, when lawfully arrested for DUI. Refusal to take a test will result in a one-year suspension of the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for the first refusal or an 18-month suspension for each subsequent refusal. These suspensions are in addition to any other penalties that may be imposed by the court upon a DUI conviction.
- Pop a top, face a fine – Florida law prohibits possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages by the driver and passengers.
Consequences of a DUI or DWI
- Costly fines
- Imprisoned in jail
- Extra fees, penalties, and lawyer expenses
- Increased insurance premiums
How To Spot A Drunk Driver
These warning signs should be your signal to take down a license plate number and vehicle description to report to the proper authorities. Do not attempt to stop the vehicle. Report impaired drivers by dialing *FHP on your cell phone.
- Wide turns
- Straddling lanes or driving on the center line
- Drifting or moving in a straight line at a slight angle to the roadway
- Driving with headlights off at night
- Appearing to be drunk (eye fixation, face close to the windshield, drinking in the vehicle)
- Driving below the speed limit Erratic braking or stopping without cause
- Slow response to traffic signals (sudden stops, delay start)
- Nearly striking an object, curb, etc.