ELKHART, Ind. – The Elkhart County Traffic Safety Partnership announced the results of the 2020 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” holiday enforcement mobilization, which ran from mid-December to the first of the new year.

During this period, 34 seatbelt citations were written, 3 arrests were made for driving under the influence, as well as 117 total citations and 81 warning were also issued for various violations, according to the Elkhart Count Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to normal patrols, additional officers conducted high-visibility efforts designed to identify and intercept those driving while intoxicated.

In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

The extra patrols were conducted to improve road safety during the holiday season, one of the deadliest times for the nation’s road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday periods in 2018, there were more drunk driving-related fatalities than any other period in the U.S.

In Indiana alone, there were 415 alcohol related crashes that resulted in 105 injuries and 11 fatalities in December of 2019, stated Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office.

“What’s so disheartening to think about is that every one of those fatalities could’ve been prevented,” stated ICJI Executive Director, Devon McDonald, “whether you’re going out for dinner and drinks or a casual get together with friends, plan ahead and make arrangements. There’s no excuse for driving under the influence.”

While impaired driving was a focus of the campaign, unbuckled motorists made up more than half of the people who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2019, stated the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Although the campaign has concluded, the department urges motorists to drive sober, buckle up and pay attention to roadways year-round.

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