Montanans: Plan for a Sober Ride and Help Everyone Get Home Safely This Labor Day Weekend

August 17, 2022, Helena, Mont. – As the Labor Day weekend approaches, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office, Helena Police Department, East Helena Police Department, and the Montana Highway Patrol are encouraging Montanans to plan for a sober ride home before celebrating. Labor Day weekend marks the tail end of the "100 Deadliest Days of Summer" for traffic safety in Montana, all law enforcement will be increasing patrols across the state and making DUI arrests to ensure every Montanan gets home safely. Law enforcement and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) are committed to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Montana's roadways during busy holiday weekends.

According to MDT, if drivers have a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or higher, they could receive a DUI charge and other serious consequences, including having their driver's license revoked, being required to take mandatory classes, and receiving possible jail time, and up to $10,000 in fines and legal fees.

"If you're drinking this holiday weekend, be sure to plan for a safe ride home, the important thing to know is how you're getting home before you even go out. There are lots of ways to plan for a sober ride." - Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.

"Designate one of your friends as a sober driver, arrange for a rideshare service/cab/public transportation, or call a friend or family member. If you see your friends have had too much to drink, have their back and help them get home safely, too," - Helena Police Chief Brett Petty.

Why are Montana's state and local law enforcement on high alert during the holiday weekend? These are Montana's sobering statistics for 2020:

• Impaired driver involved crashes in Montana accounted for 10% of all reported roadway crashes in 2020, but 66% of all roadway crash fatalities.

• In 2020, 99% of impaired driver involved roadway deaths occurred in rural crashes.

• 77% of impaired drivers (with a BAC above 0.079) that were involved roadway deaths in 2020 involved a male driver.

"Do not drive impaired – it's dangerous for everyone on the road. We'll have increased patrols out Labor Day weekend to keep Montanans safe as they travel to and from their activities in these final days of summer. Have fun, but please be responsible as you spend time with your friends and family. Together we can make sure everyone gets home safe." - Montana Highway Patrol Colonel Steve Lavin.

Montana Department of Transportation - Vision Zero

This is a Vision Zero message from the Montana Department of Transportation. This and other enforcement and educational campaigns are strategies to reach Vision Zero - zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. For more information about Vision Zero, contact Janet Kenny, Montana Department of Transportation, 406-444-7417 or [email protected]