Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies mobilizing impaired driving this season

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies are working with law enforcement throughout Idaho and the Idaho Office of Highway Safety to mobilize impaired driving.

Extra deputies will be on the roads watching out for impaired driving and responding to reports.

Since it’s the holiday season, people need to not drive if they have been drinking or using illegal drugs.

The number of fatal and serious injury crashes in the Gem State has been rising in 2023.

“Statistically, more than a third of these crashes have some sort of alcohol [or drug] impairment as a factor,” Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office’s PIO Sergeant Bryan Lovell said. “That’s concerning, so we really want to educate people and intervene before we have a tragedy.”

“In 2021, 5% of U.S. drivers reported they drove when they thought they were over the legal BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) limit in 2021,” said a recent study. “Which was a 35.5% increase from 2020.”

If people think someone is impaired, they should report it to local law enforcement dispatch.

More information on driving safely can be found at shift-idaho.org.