Staying safe on the roads this Labor Day weekend

Indiana State Police want to remind all Hoosiers to stay safe and make smart decisions when it comes to driving this Labor Day weekend.

Anyone planning on drinking this holiday weekend should have a safe and sober means of transportation home.

Sgt. Ted Bohner with Indiana State Police is encouraging all Hoosiers to use a ride sharing service or have a designated driver planned for after drinking in order to make it home safely.

Anyone that suspects they are encountering a drunk driver while on a roadway is asked to call 911 to report the incident.

“Protect yourself from those drivers out there that are bad. A lot of these bad crashes are happening in work zones where traffic is slowing down or stopped or even at red lights. Allow yourself an out, keep your head up, look at what’s happening around you,” said Sgt. Bohner.

According to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, 17 percent of all traffic fatalities in Indiana in 2020 involved alcohol, with 12 deaths on last year’s Labor Day weekend alone.

It is also encouraged to take car keys away from friends and family who are thinking about driving while impaired and arrange a safe ride home for them.