Thanksgiving Crack Down On Drunk Drivers In Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Law enforcement throughout Somerset and Hunterdon Counties are urging drivers to remember throughout Thanksgiving gatherings that "Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving."

Drinking and driving is a crime that has claimed the lives of many people during the past
Thanksgiving holiday festivities.

According to statistics, 184 people died in drunk-driving crashes, in which one or more drivers had a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, during the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday (6 p.m. Wednesday – 5:59 a.m. Monday).

Drivers ages 21-34 (32 percent) were the age group with the highest rate of involvement in fatal drunk-driving crashes on Thanksgiving 2022.

From 2018-2022, the death toll in drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving festivities was 833, representing 34 percent of all fatalities in traffic crashes for that period.

"Driving under the influence of alcohol is never an option," said Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald. "Even one drink can be enough to impair a person’s judgment and driving ability. Having a plan in place for safe transportation before having the first drink is the responsible way to avoid the dangers of impaired driving this Thanksgiving. Drivers can keep themselves, their passengers, and other families safe on the road by recognizing that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving and by making plans to drive sober or get a sober ride home."

McDonald offered the following tips for drivers:

• Drivers should be safe during the Thanksgiving holiday period by planning ahead if they intend to drink.
• They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere.
• Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
• If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely.
• When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home.
• If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.

"All drivers are reminded to keep the Thanksgiving holiday spirit alive by making responsible choices and prioritizing the safety of all road users," said McDonald. "Drive 100 percent sober, because Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving."

For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.

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