Drunk driving. Over the limit. Under Arrest.

On August 26, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) kicked off the annual “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to combat drunk driving, and the USDOT has teamed up with over 11,000 law enforcement agencies across the US to step up enforcement until Labor Day.

A report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 8 percent of all drivers admitted to driving when they thought they were over the limit last year. While 8 percent may not sound like a huge number, it translates to 17 million drunk drivers on our roads in the last year! 17 MILLION!

The good news is that the same report found that 4 out of 5 respondents identified drunk driving as a major threat to their safety.

“Our message is loud and clear. If you drive drunk you will be arrested and prosecuted. There will be no exceptions and no excuses. And if you’re below the age of 21, there is zero tolerance for any alcohol in your system whatsoever,” said NHTSA Administrator, David Strickland.

Driving under the influence is one of the top major dangers for teen drivers. Read more on our major danger of driving under the influence page.