COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Michigan law enforcement agencies, including the Michigan State Police (MSP) and local police departments, have initiated the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign to combat impaired driving during the holiday season.
The high-visibility enforcement effort, funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), runs from December 11, 2024, through January 1, 2025, with a zero-tolerance approach to intoxicated drivers.
Officers are increasing patrols and utilizing sobriety checkpoints across the state to identify motorists under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The initiative is designed to reduce the number of preventable deaths and serious injuries on Michigan roadways during a time when impaired-driving related crashes typically spike.
The campaign is a response to concerning data regarding impaired driving fatalities in the state. In 2023, nearly 41% of all fatalities on Michigan roads involved alcohol or drugs. Between 2019 and 2023, the holiday periods saw 30 people killed in traffic crashes in Michigan, with 13 of those deaths involving alcohol or drug impairment.
Katie Bower, director of the OHSP, emphasized that the holiday season sees increased alcohol consumption and a higher risk of impaired driving, which endangers everyone on the road.
Authorities stress that impaired driving is preventable and urge Michiganders to plan for a sober ride before celebrating.
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