Photos and Commentary from the December 16, 2005 Operation Zero Tolerance Kickoff in Savannah, Georgia

Impaired driving is one of America’s deadliest problems.. And the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is one of the most dangerous times on the calendar, due to an increase in drunk driving. Impaired drivers cause almost a third of Georgia’s traffic fatalities each year. That could mean 500 alcohol-related funerals for Georgia families by year’s end.

“The numbers are tragic. The message is simple.. If You Drink and Drive, You Lose,” says Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “That’s why Georgia law enforcement officers from OPERATION ZERO-TOLERANCE (OZT) will be out-in-force this December Holiday travel period, and if you’re drinking and driving, they’ll be looking for you.”

Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says nearly 13,000 people died last year in alcohol-related crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of .08 or above. NHTSA stats show another 2,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes involving drivers with Blood Alcohol Levels as low as .01 in 2004.

“It shows that when you’re celebrating you might not realize that you’ve had too much and you’ve become impaired,” said GOHS Director Dallas. “That’s why you should always designate a sober driver before the party begins. Otherwise, if you are impaired, we’ll do our best to arrest and prosecute you for driving drunk when the party’s over.”

From Friday, December 16, 2005 through Monday, January 2, 2006, GOHS will mobilize State Troopers, police, and sheriff’s deputies from more than 500 law enforcement agencies to set-up saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints for OZT-duty across the state where you least expect them.

“So If you plan to party, plan first for a designated driver, said Director Dallas. “Plan to take a taxi, or plan to spend the night.. Because if you to plan to drive impaired you should plan to go to jail!”

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has designed two new printouts to help make your celebration worry-free this holiday season. One is a designated-driver gift certificate for you to fill out and present to your favorite “party animal”. The illustration features a lighthearted cartoon character, but the lifesaving message is deadly serious. It promises the ‘gift of a lift’ as the designated driver for the occasion of their choosing.

The other new printout is your official GOHS Designated Driver Card. On one side, the big blue card identifies you as the “Official Alcohol-Free Designated Driver.” It’s a conversation starter and a handy card to show your server as a reminder that tonight’s safe trip home is your responsibility and staying sober is part of the pact.

The opposite side of the big blue card reminds designated drivers these rules of the road for the night’s responsible party-goer:

-That safety begins before the drinking begins.
-Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages or taking drugs or medication.
-Encourage friends to set a predetermined limit of drinks.
-Know if friends take medications which may further impair abilities or health.
-Insist that all passengers wear safety belts, every seat, every trip.
-Be familiar with the vehicle to be driven.
-Drive defensively by being alert at all times.
-Do not allow alcohol to be consumed or opened in the vehicle.
-Obey all traffic laws and resist influences to take risks.
-Safety responsibilities do not end until friends are safely inside.

You can find the GOHS holiday designated driver gift certificate and the big blue designated driver ID card ready to be printed out on the GOHS website at www.gahighwaysafety.org/designateddriver.html

“The designated driver gift certificate and ID card are free. Being a designated driver costs you nothing and earns you the appreciation of your friends and family,” said Dallas. “But for drivers stopped by police for drinking or using drugs: Being caught, arrested, and prosecuted can cost thousands of dollars for defense and fines. You can lose your car, your license, and your liberty if the charge is vehicular homicide. Remember to designate a sober driver this holiday and don’t forget that a buckled safety belt is your best protection against encountering an impaired driver on the road.”

Operation Zero Tolerance is supported by the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Georgia State Patrol. They’ll all be on patrol during the December Zero Tolerance mobilization in Georgia. This year high-profile law enforcement patrols will also do their part to save lives by writing tickets for speeding, seatbelt violations, and aggressive driving.

Below are some photos from the December 16th Kickoff in Savannah. Click on each photo for a larger image.

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