Nature of Incident: December Traffic Safety Awareness – Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Location: City of Thousand Oaks
Date & Time: Month of December 2018
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department-Traffic Bureau
Narrative:
The Thousand Oaks Police Department continues to promote traffic safety within the
community. In an effort to recognize certain hazards while driving, the Traffic Bureau is
continuing a monthly traffic awareness reminder program, addressing a traffic topic each month.
While we focus on a specific topic each month, it’s always imperative to constantly strive to
follow all rules of the road. The month of December is dedicated to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled
Over”.
The holidays are a time for friends, family, and co-workers to come together in celebration.
Wherever you are, whether at an office party, a family member’s home, or out at the bar, it is
essential that you make the lifesaving choice to drive sober when the party ends. To help spread
the message about the dangers of drunk driving, the Thousand Oaks Police Department is
committed to get drunk drivers off the roads and help save lives. We will show zero tolerance
for drunk driving, as well as drugged driving, which is on the rise.
Alcohol consumption impairs your thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination—all vital abilities
to operating a vehicle safely. At a .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), your crash risk
increases exponentially. Because of this risk, it’s illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. But
even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability.
This holiday season, it’s important to remember that drug-impaired driving is just as dangerous
as drunk driving. Illegal drugs, prescription medication, and even some over-the-counter drugs
can interfere with your brain’s ability to properly function. Drug use can negatively impact your
motor coordination and reaction time which are both critical aspects of safely operating a
vehicle. It’s illegal to drive while drug-impaired, and it puts you, your passengers and other road
users at risk of serious injury or death.
Being responsible is easy if you have been drinking or have taken mind-altering drugs, do not
drive. Your life, and the lives of others are at risk if you do not have a responsible plan to get
home safely from your holiday party. Here are a few tips to help you have a safe and fun night of
celebration.
1. Before drinking, choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver.
2. Use NHTSA’s SaferRide app or Uber to call a friend or a taxi. The app is available on
Google Play for Android devices and Apple devices on the iTunes store.
3. If you are hosting the party, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
4. If you see a drunk driver on the road, call law enforcement immediately.
5. Always wear your seat belt. It’s the best defense against drunk drivers.
Alcohol, drugs and driving simply do not go together. Driving requires a person’s attentiveness
and the ability to make quick decisions on the road, to react to changes in the environment and
execute specific, often difficult maneuvers behind the wheel. When drinking alcohol, using
drugs, or being distracted for any reason, driving becomes dangerous and potentially lethal!
The Thousand Oaks Traffic Bureau encourages you to make the right decision and drive sober.
Make this a safe holiday season we can all enjoy.
For more information on driving sober, please visit:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
https://www.ghsa.org/issues/alcohol-impaired-driving
https://www.ots.ca.gov/media-and-research/campaigns/dui-crackdown/
http://venturacountylimits.org/en/prevention/impaired-driving/snapshot
Prepared by: Sgt. Dennis Sliva
Media Release Date: December 10, 2018
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. Dennis Sliva
dennis.sliva@ventura.org
(805) 494-8271
Approved by: Capt. Don Aguilar
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