For Immediate Release

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jessica@jgpr.net

Concord Police Participate in ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign

CONCORD — Chief Joseph O’Connor announces that the Concord Police Department will be increasing the number of patrols on local roads as part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The initiative is funded through a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division and will continue through the remainder of the summer.

Police urge motorists who have been drinking or using marijuana or other drugs to plan ahead and designate a driver, use a ride-sharing service or take public transportation.

“Any kind of impairment affects your ability to drive safely,” Chief O’Connor said. “There are many ways to get home safely and there is never an excuse to drive impaired. It puts you and everyone around you at risk.”

Concord Police will have several officers on the lookout for impaired and reckless drivers over the coming weeks. Residents are reminded to never get behind the wheel if they have been drinking and to never get into a vehicle if the driver is impaired.

According to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, marijuana or marijuana-type drugs were the most prevalent types of drugs found in drivers involved in fatal crashes from 2013 to 2017. Additionally, from 2013 to 2017, 11 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes were found with both alcohol and drugs in their system.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that approximately 1/3 of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers. On average, from 2013-2017, more than 10,000 people have died each year in drunk-driving crashes.

Concord Police join 140 local law enforcement agencies across the state that will participate in this campaign to enhance efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road.

If you are charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will lose your license and could face jail time and incur the cost of significant fines and expenses.

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