Officers to keep an eye out for drunk drivers this weekend

As you get ready to watch the big game this weekend, the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety and law enforcement agencies across Idaho remind you to drive sober.

“It’s a fun night, and we hope people enjoy the game,” said Highway Safety Manager John Tomlinson. “We just want people to have a plan to get home safely after the game.”

This weekend, more than 40 different agencies across the state will have extra officers on patrol looking for drunk drivers. This is the first mobilization in Idaho focused on the title game, but similar activities have helped get drunk drivers off the roads.

During the recent holiday mobilization ending after New Year’s Day, 278 suspected drunk drivers were arrested across the state.

Drunk driving isn’t just illegal, it is also very dangerous. In 2017, nearly one-third of all fatal crashes involved impaired driving.

Football fans are encouraged to identify a designated driver, call a taxi, use a ride-share service, or call a friend or family member for a sober ride home.

Tomlinson also urges people attending parties to speak up if they see someone try to drive after drinking too much.

“Just like winning the game, it takes a team effort to eliminate drunk driving in Idaho,” he said. “There are so many resources available to people get home safely, there isn’t an excuse to drive drunk.”