ARKANSAS, USA — As the Fourth of July approaches, many Arkansans are planning to celebrate the day with friends and family. While festivities are encouraged, local and state law enforcement are discouraging Arkansans and any incoming travelers from getting behind the wheel after drinking.
Arkansas State Police (ASP), the Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD), and the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) said they are partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in their Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to deter impaired driving and prevent any tragedies in the state.
FPD said they are deploying extra traffic enforcement between July 3 and July 7 for the holiday week.
"We want to make it clear that on this Fourth of July holiday, we will have a zero-tolerance policy against drinking and driving," said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. "Troopers are well-trained to identify signs of drunk driving on the road. Driving under the influence is a reckless act that puts the lives of drivers, their passengers, and others on the road at extreme risk. We urge everyone to make responsible choices for a safe holiday."
According to ASP, the Fourth of July is "one of the deadliest times on the nation's roads."
If you plan to drink on the Fourth of July, ASP recommends making arrangements for getting home ahead of time. The Arkansas Safety Office also recommends:
- Designating a sober driver or plan to use a ride service to get home
- Calling 911 if you see a drunk driver
- Helping people who attempt to drive while drunk make other arrangements to get home
- Always wearing a seatbelt
"A few dollars spent on a ride is a lot cheaper than a DWI, which can cost up to $10,000," ASP said.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.