Drunk driving crackdown campaign begins tomorrow

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be joining thousands of law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation from Aug. 15 through Labor Day to take part in the "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest" crackdown on impaired driving.

Drunken driving is one of America's deadliest crimes. Across the country, statistics show that in just one year, more than 13,000 people are killed in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher.

"A BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit," stated Billie Johnson, assistant director of the Office of Highway Safety Programs. "But that doesn't necessarily mean you can safely drive at 0.07. Everyone's different, and the rule should be - don't get behind the wheel if you've had anything at all to drink."

Last year in Kentucky, there were more than 6,000 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 214 deaths and more than 3,400 injuries.

Secretary of Transportation Joe Prather, the Governor's representative for highway safety, said KYTC has a responsibility to make the state's highways as safe as possible.

"This aggressive campaign is an example of our commitment to improving safety on our highways. Through our efficient use of resources from various agencies, we will be successful.

Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is illegal in every state. All states also have zero tolerance laws, meaning it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.