It is August in Iowa… State Fair excitement, schools beginning a new year, and then, right around the corner will be Labor Day – the traditional end of summer. This is one of the busiest travel times of the year as many people try and squeeze in one more vacation destination. Others will host or attend end-of-summer social events where alcohol will be served.
However you decide to observe the end of summer remember this: it is NEVER okay to drink and drive. If your plans include activities where alcohol will be served make sure you have a plan before you arrive on how you will be getting home.
Last Labor Day’s three-day weekend resulted in 10 fatalities in Iowa. That was the highest Labor Day fatality count since 1995. Four of those 10 fatalities were alcohol related.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that during the 2016 holiday (the last year data is available) there were 433 crash fatalities nationwide with 36 percent involving drivers who were drunk. Almost one in five children (14 and younger) killed in traffic crashes were killed in drunk-driving crashes and 54 percent of the time, it was the child’s own driver who was drunk.
To combat end-of-summer alcohol related fatalities law enforcement agencies in Iowa, including the Jefferson police department, and across the nation will be stepping up enforcement from Aug. 17 – Sept. They will articularly be watching for impaired and unbelted drivers and there will be zero tolerance to noncompliant drivers.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau remind Iowans that drinking and driving is a choice, and it is a choice that should not be made.
