From August 19 through September 7, 2026, the Lower Township Police Department will be working alongside U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to deter drunk driving and prevent tragedies during the Labor Day holiday weekend. The message is clear: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Labor Day is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, and unfortunately, it also remains one of the deadliest due to impaired driving. During the 2024 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. August 30 through 5:59 a.m. September 3), 505 people were killed in traffic crashes nationwide. Of those fatalities, 170 people (34%) died in crashes involving at least one alcoholimpaired driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
The dangers of impaired driving are even more apparent when looking at the drivers involved. During the 2023 Labor Day holiday, 100 drivers killed in traffic crashes were alcohol-impaired, representing 33% of all driver fatalities. Of those impaired drivers, 77% had a BAC of .15 or higher—nearly twice the legal limit. Young adults continue to be disproportionately affected as
well. Among drivers 18 to 34 years old who were killed in crashes during the 2024 Labor Day holiday, 40% were alcohol-impaired, with BACs of .08 or higher.
“We want our community members to understand that our first priority is keeping everyone safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Lieutenant Anthony Greto “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to remind people that drunk driving is illegal, preventable, and deadly. Let’s work together to protect our community and put an end to this dangerous behavior.”
If you plan to drink during a Labor Day celebration, make arrangements for a safe ride home before you go out. Designate a sober driver, use a taxi, or call a rideshare service. Don’t wait until after you’ve been drinking to decide how you’ll get home. Alcohol impairs judgment, reaction time, and decision-making, putting everyone on the road at risk.
If you become impaired and are unable to drive safely, hand your keys to a sober friend or family member. If someone you know has been drinking and is considering driving, step in. Take away their keys and help them find a safe ride home. If you see a suspected drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement immediately.
For more information about impaired driving and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit NHTSA.gov/DrunkDriving.