Franklin/Ripley County Traffic Safety Partnership Cracking Down on Impaired Driving

Monday, August 19, 2024 at 11:38 AM

By Franklin County Sheriff's Office, news release

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign runs through Sept. 2.

(Franklin/Ripley Counties, Ind.) - Drive sober or get pulled over. That is the warning the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Batesville Police Department are issuing to drivers as they gear up for the annual end-of-summer impaired driving enforcement campaign. Starting August 16 through September 2, officers with the Franklin/Ripley County Traffic Safety Partnership will join with officers across the state to increase patrols and sobriety checkpoints to crack down on those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

“Driving drunk or drug-impaired is a problem for everyone,” said James Bryan, ICJI’s Traffic Safety Director. “Making the choice to operate a vehicle while impaired is never the right option.”

Alcohol-impaired driving continues to contribute to many deaths in Indiana. In 2023, around 20% of all traffic fatalities in Indiana involved alcohol impairment. Drug-impaired driving is another major contributor to deadly crashes. In 2023, nearly a quarter of all traffic fatalities involved drug impairment.

“We want our community members 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 Sergeant Adam Henson. “Help us protect the community and put an end to this senseless behavior.”

Drivers should be safe during this Labor Day holiday by planning ahead if they intend to drink. Even if you only have one drink, designate a sober driver, or use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely. Never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they have been drinking. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.