Hawai‘i Police Department
Community Policing Section
Lieutenant William Derr
Phone: (808) 961-2350
Media Release
This holiday season, the Hawai‘i Police Department is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving. From December 18, 2020, through January 1, 2021, law enforcement will participate in the high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
As part of this national effort, officers from Hawai‘i Police Department, sheriffs from the Department of Public Safety, personnel from the Department Of Land and Natural Resources, along with volunteers from local businesses and Neighborhood Watch groups will hold a sign waiving event reminding motorists to drive safely this holiday season on December 18 and December 28, 2020, fronting Walmart/Walgreens along Māmalahoa Highway from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sadly, statistics prove that we have a lot of work to do to put an end to drunk driving. According to NHTSA, 10,511 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2018. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2014 to 2018 — one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 50 minutes in 2018. This is why the Hawai‘i Police Department is working with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal; it is a matter of life and death. As you head out to the holiday festivities, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
During the month of December 2018, 839 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver. During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday periods in 2018 alone, there were more drunk-driving-related fatalities, 285, than during any other holiday period that year. These fatalities are preventable, and drivers must remember that driving impaired by any substance — alcohol or other drugs — is deadly, illegal, and selfish behavior.
Hawai‘i police recommend these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
- Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
If you see a vehicle that is driving erratic or appears to be operated by a driver who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, please call the Hawai‘i Police Department immediately at either 911, in an emergency, or the department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. It takes our entire community working together to have the greatest impact on making our roads safe.