According to data provided by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS), last year in Kentucky there were 4,324 total crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in 2,085 injuries and 181 deaths. Of the 1,704 total motorcycle crashes last year, 793 single-vehicle crashes and involved only the motorcyclist. Of those single-vehicle crashes, 41 involved alcohol, resulting in 32 injuries and 7 deaths. During the 2023 Labor Day holiday weekend, there were 77 crashes in Kentucky involving an impaired driver, resulting in 29 injuries and six deaths.
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a national effort to prevent impaired driving during the Labor
Day Holiday period. This year’s campaign ran from August 16th through September 2nd. The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) participated in “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” by utilizing grant funding provided by the KOHS to pay overtime for additional deputies to patrol the roads during the operation. On August 24th deputies conducted a traffic safety checkpoint on August 24th on Highway 405 resulting in 75 motorist contacts resulting in 2 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). Additionally, while patrolling Daviess County roadways during the campaign, deputies located and arrested seven DUIs. While the focus of the campaign is to enforce DUI laws, there were additional citations issued for failure to wear seatbelts, no insurance, speeding and other unsafe driving behaviors.