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Governor’s Highway Safety Program Launches Operation Firecracker

Last Updated on June 29, 2015 5:15 pm

Law enforcement officers representing local, state, and military agencies gathered Friday at the Airborne and Operations Museum in Fayetteville to kick off the Fourth of July “Booze It & Lose It” Operation Firecracker driving while impaired enforcement campaign. In 2014, Operation Firecracker had 8,018 sobriety checkpoints resulting in 1,929 driving while impaired arrests.

“As you celebrate our nation’s freedom over the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, please take steps to celebrate safely and responsibly by planning ahead and find a sober designated driver,” said Don Nail, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP).  “Celebrate our country’s birth by honoring her and those who have died for our freedoms by not getting behind a wheel if you have been drinking.”

To help combat drunk driving over the Independence Day holiday the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, in conjunction with the N.C. Department of Transportation launched its summer marketing campaign, “Don’t Drink and Drive.  You’re Smarter Than That.”

The campaign focuses on building awareness of the variety of options a person has readily available to them to get home safely after drinking. It’s never been easier to find a sober way home—including calling a friend, using a taxi, taking public transportation, or designating a driver.

 Drinking and driving has incredibly far-reaching consequences—those who decide to get behind the wheel while impaired can lose their license, significant money in court costs and possibly their jobs. They also risk the worst penalty of all – losing their lives or killing someone else. The “Don’t Drink and Drive. You’re Smarter Than That” campaign reminds us that all of these consequences are 100% preventable.

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