The Hartsville Police Department (HPD), South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), and law enforcement partners statewide will conduct stringent enforcement of impaired driving laws as part of its Sober or Slammer! campaign beginning December 13, 2019 through January 1, 2020. HPD is encouraging drivers to make a plan now for a safe ride home from parties and celebrations this holiday season.
SCDPS and HPD encourage motorists to take the following steps to ensure a safe ride home:
- Designate a sober driver;
- Use public transportation, such as buses and shuttles;
- Call a local cab or taxi service, or plan ahead for a taxi. (Some local towing services also offer safe rides home and will tow the driver’s car home for a fee);
- Downloading and use ride-share apps such as Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, etc.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also doing its part to encourage safe rides and has developed the NHSTA SaferRide app, available for Android and Apple mobile devices (see below). Users can create a profile in SaferRide and may use the app to call a friend or a local cab service for a ride home.
On average, 300 people die each year on South Carolina roadways as a result of impaired driving. SCDPS also released a new PSA to coincide with the launch of the holiday Sober or Slammer! campaign, which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO8Cp7lgKYY