The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol announced they are teaming up with close to 100 law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma to combat impaired driving on New Year's Eve.
OHSO say, "The goal is simple: to make Oklahoma as safe as possible by getting impaired drivers off the roads. Additional deputies, officers, and troopers will be on duty looking for impaired drivers across the the state before, during, and after any checkpoints."
Last year on New Year's Eve, officials say a total of 374 crashes occurred in Oklahoma. Out of the 374, five of the crashes were fatal, resulting in the death of five people.
Officials say out of the 374 crashes in Oklahoma last year, 45 were alcohol and/or drug-related, which is more than 12 percent of the holiday crashing.
Officials say as part of the national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" mobilization and the ENDUI Oklahoma campaign, Tulsa will have sobriety checkpoints set up from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. within the Tulsa city limits. Tulsa will also have a saturation of patrol in Tulsa County and surrounding counties. Pottawatomie County will also have a sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a saturation of patrol involving all law enforcement agencies in the county before, during and after the checkpoint.
OHSO says, "If impaired drivers are on the road tonight, they will be found. There will be zero tolerance for impaired drivers because there is no excuse to drive impaired."
Officials encourage everyone to find safe rides by calling a sober driver, a cab, Uber, Lyft or any ride-share service.
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