With the holiday season upon us, residents and visitors to the District of Columbia are reminded to stay safe and drive sober during the holiday season.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), in 2020, 11,654 people were killed nationwide including seven people killed in the District of Columbia in a motor vehicle related crash that involved an alcohol-impaired driver.

While impaired driving fatalities tragically occur year-round, evidence shows that the holiday season is a particularly dangerous time on the roadways.  Every life lost as a result of an impaired driver is one too many.  Efforts to eliminate this preventable and violent crime must continue until, as a nation, we are at zero impaired driver fatalities.

From December 14, 2022 through January 1, 2023, law enforcement throughout the region will be joining NHTSA as it kicks off its holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” national crackdown against impaired drivers.  Across the District, law enforcement efforts to prevent impaired driving will be increased.  When enjoying your holiday celebrations, please plan to get home safely:  designate a sober driver before the party begins or plan a way to get home safely at the end of the night.  If you are impaired, call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.

In addition, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s Holiday SoberRide program will occur nightly from December 16, 2022 through January 1, 2023, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. During that time, would be impaired riders, 21 years of age or older can redeem a $15.00 SoberRide offer using their Lyft App by entering the SoberRide promo code in the Lyft app’s promo section. New codes will be released nightly. Riders are responsible for any balance above $15.00.

For more information, please contact Assistant Attorney General and Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Melissa Shear at Melissa.Shear@dc.gov.