The Fight to Reduce Drunk Driving Car Accidents
Summer brings plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures and fun in the sun to the Palmetto State. Unfortunately, the warm weather months also bring an overall increase in the number of car accidents and injuries, particularly those involving drunk drivers. With the season drawing to a close, state highway officials have launched their annual campaign to help reduce these types of accidents by increasing traffic patrol and public awareness efforts. The program has been successful over the last several years in helping drivers to be aware of the dangers while reducing the overall number of drunk driving accidents in our state. There are a few interesting new strategies used in this year’s sober or slammer campaign.
2016 Sober or Slammer Campaign
According to an August 2016 news release from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), the annual Sober or Slammer campaign is aimed at sending a strong message to end of summer drivers, both about the dangers of drunk driving and the potential penalties involved. The campaign typically runs from mid-August through early September and has helped achieve an almost 10 percent reduction in the total number of these types of accidents that occur each year in our state.
The 2016 campaign features the use of emoji images on billboards and in social media messages, and is meant to be shared by users on sites such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The SCDPS is counting on the internet to increase its overall audience reach while the use of emoji’s is hoped to appeal to younger drivers, who may not be as aware as their older counterparts of impaired driving risks. Sober or slammer public service announcements urge drivers to notify South Carolina Highway Patrol by dialing *HP or *47 if they suspect another driver is under the influence, and to remain alert to the following signs:
- Drivers operating their vehicle erratically
- Cars weaving and driving in and out of lanes
- Cars traveling either too fast or too slow
- Drivers who are drifting into other drivers’ lanes, or going off the side of the roadway
For a free legal consultation, call 803-222-2222
Drunk Driving Accident Facts
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 10,000 drivers are killed each year because of drunk driving accidents in the United States, which averages to roughly one death every 52 minutes. In addition to injuries and fatalities caused by these accidents, the associated costs are estimated at more than $35 billion each year. Additional facts about alcohol related accidents include the following:
- Drunk driving accident rates are highest during the summer months
- These types of accidents occur most frequently at night and over the weekend
- Drunk driving is a contributing cause in roughly half of all major car accidents that occur each year
- Driving under the influence is often indicative of alcohol abuse and addiction
- Unfortunately, drivers who are cited for DUI often continue to drink and drive, putting themselves and other drivers at risk
DUI Injury? Get Help From a South Carolina Car Accident Attorney
If you are injured in a car accident as the result of an impaired driver, contact Anastopoulo Law Firm right away. Our experienced South Carolina car accident attorneys can advise you on how to hold responsible parties accountable and assist you in getting the compensation you need to recover.
Call or text 803-222-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
