Impaired Driving Overview
COVID has disrupted the usual patterns of life for many, but people are still on the roads this August. It may be the end of the summer, but Washingtonians are still commuting to work or going places for some peace and relaxation. COVID has not displaced the need to remind drivers to plan before they party, or to encourage people to offer alternatives if they see someone about to drive impaired.
Key Messages
Where appropriate, please incorporate these suggested messages in your communications to your audience during this campaign.
Most Washingtonians Drive Sober and Will Step Up to Prevent Impaired Driving
Most of us in Washington (78 percent) don’t drive after drinking; still Washington experienced 231 deaths related to impaired driving last year in our state.
It’s going to take all of us to drive that number toward zero. And that’s exactly what’s happening. Most Washingtonians (81 percent), when in a situation to intervene, take action to prevent someone from driving impaired.
If you encounter a situation where someone might drive impaired you can:
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Arrange for or provide a ride
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Arrange for the person to stay where they are
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Offer your couch for the night
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Engage someone else to help, including calling 911
Using Alcohol and Cannabis Together Lead to Crashes
Most adults in Washington (83 percent) believe driving impaired is unacceptable.
Drivers who are impaired from more than one substance—usually alcohol and cannabis – are now the most common type of driver involved in deadly crashes.
If you use marijuana after drinking alcohol, you increase your crash risk.
We all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe for everyone. Step up to save a life. Intervening is what we do as friends, family and neighbors.
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Email & Website Messages
Here are sample messages you can send to your constituency or post on your website:
Driving Impaired from Alcohol and Cannabis
Most adults in Washington (83 percent) believe driving impaired is unacceptable.
Drivers who are impaired from more than one substance—usually alcohol and cannabis—are now the most common type of driver involved in deadly crashes.
Using marijuana after drinking alcohol increases crash risk.
We all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe for everyone. Step up to save a life. Intervening is what we do as friends, family and neighbors.
Nearly Half of Traffic Deaths Involve Impaired Driver
Alcohol and drug impaired driving is the leading contributing factor in Washington deadly crashes. Nearly half of all traffic deaths in Washington involve an impaired driver.
DUI Consequences
Being arrested for a DUI is expensive. Expect to pay at least $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work higher insurance rates, car towing and repairs, and more.
The consequences of a DUI include:
• $5,000 fine
• Legal bills of up to $10,000
• 100% increase in insurance rates
• One year in jail
• Suspended license
• Installation of ignition interlock device on your car
DUI Doesn’t Mean Just Alcohol
Impaired driving includes:
• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Illegal drugs
• Prescription drugs
• Many over the counter drugs like Nyquil, Ambien, pain and allergy meds
For more information go to www.wadrivetozero.com/dui.
Here are sample messages and graphics that you can incorporate into your social media. Feel free to adapt locally–statistics on impairment in your county can be found here and a suggested accompanying message on this page. Please click on the link below each image to download for posting on Facebook and Twitter.
Everyone can prevent impaired driving. Most Washingtonians (81%) will intervene to prevent impaired driving when they can. Take action.
https://bit.ly/3gCfg23 #ImpairedDriving #PlanBeforeYouParty
Most of us in Washington don’t drive impaired; the few that do were responsible for 231 fatal crashes in 2019.
https://bit.ly/3gCfg23 #DesignatedDriver #ImpairedDriving
Law enforcement is conducting extra patrols to get impaired drivers off the road. Working together we can stop impaired driving. Plan before you party. Or help prevent someone from driving impaired.
https://bit.ly/3gCfg23 #DesignatedDriver. #ImpairedDriving
Take this simple quiz. So, how did you do?
https://bit.ly/3gCfg23 #DesignatedDriver. #ImpairedDriving
Most of us don’t drive impaired. We take responsibility and give our keys to someone before we party.
https://bit.ly/3gCfg23 #DesignatedDriver. #ImpairedDriving
When there’s a chance to prevent someone from driving impaired, most Washingtonians (81%) will intervene and take action.
https://bit.ly/3gCfg23 #DesignatedDriver #ImpairedDriving
These materials include links to the DUI page on www.wadrivetozero.com/dui (WA Drive to Zero) for further information and resources. We encourage you to send your key audiences there.
Radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
These radio PSAs are valuable encouragement to help get the message out about the practicing better and safer driving habits. Feel free to use in a targeted email message or on your website. There’s no reason you couldn’t use it on a Facebook page too—however you think you’ll be reaching the widest audience for these short, but to-the-point announcements.
English
Spanish
Please refer to the statistics document (button below) to customize your messages. It’s a good way to draw attention to the impact of impaired drivers in your county and be a sobering reminder to local residents of the need to drive safely at all times.
The document shows data for each county for the years 2017-2019, and can help you fill in the blanks in the sample message below, or others you may wish to create.
Another suggestion is to use your county’s statistics to compare with neighboring counties and with the State as a whole.
Sample Message with Statistics
Most of us in _______ County(s) don’t drive impaired; the few that do were responsible for ____ fatal crashes last year in our community.
