State highway safety and law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are conducting a major drunk driving crackdown over the next few weeks. Their efforts are highlighted by a massive advertising campaign with a clear message that those driving under the influence will be arrested and prosecuted.
In order to emphasize the campaign’s importance, on August 20, representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) gathered outside of the Arlington County Courthouse in Virginia, the place where those who ignore the warnings will end up.
Measures taken by the campaign, known as “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.,” include sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols in addition to a nationwide TV and radio campaign worth $11 million. The timing of the campaign is meant to encompass a heavy travel period which includes the end of summer and Labor Day weekend.
Thousands of local and state law enforcement agencies are expected to be involved in the crackdown. In addition, the NHTSA was provided with $11 million from Congress for national advertising time to underscore the drive’s importance. The ads began airing on August 15.
