Little Rock, AR – (Contributed) – Aug. 13, 2025 – From Aug. 15 through Sept. 1, the Arkansas Highway Safety Office, with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be working alongside State and local law enforcement for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign.
The goal is to deter impaired driving and prevent the tragedies seen during previous Labor Day holiday periods from happening again.
During the 2023 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. Sept. 1 to 5:59 a.m. Sept. 5), there were 511 traffic fatalities nationwide. Of these 511 fatalities, 36% (185) involved a drunk driver.
During this same period in Arkansas, there were 12 traffic fatalities and of these, 30% (4) were impaired drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
“We want Arkansas motorists to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Col. Mike Hagar. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness and enforcement effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it kills. Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers. Help us protect the community and put an end to this dangerous behavior.”
Drivers should be safe during this Labor Day holiday weekend 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 and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.
For more information on impaired driving, click here or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136, and click here to learn about Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities.
