Last year, during the final weeks of summer, there were 54 traffic fatalities in Iowa; 44% involved impairment. To prevent future tragedies, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across the state to decrease impaired driving. August 16-September 2, agencies will be participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement project. You’ll see officers working together to remove impaired drivers/motorcycle riders from the road.
“We want drivers to understand it’s law enforcement’s first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to make a plan,” says GTSB’s Law Enforcement Liaison Randy Kunert. “The drive sober/ride sober campaign is an awareness effort to spread the message that impaired driving is illegal, and it takes lives.”
There are plenty of options to get impaired drivers home safely. Designate a sober driver or call a taxi/rideshare service. If you see a drunk driver/rider on the road, contact local law enforcement.
The Marshalltown Police Department partners with area law enforcement and the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau to address traffic safety in our community. Traffic safety programs help enhance overall safety in our community. Traffic safety concerns are also important quality of life concerns. The Marshalltown Police Department encourages the motoring public to slow down, put those devices down, wear your seat belts, and always drive sober. The police department will be out in full force addressing traffic safety concerns as we approach the Labor Day holiday weekend.
For more information, please contact Sgt. Paul Heitman by calling 641.754.5729 or via email at pheitman@marshalltown-ia.gov.
