Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Kicks Off Pilot Program ‘DriveSober Maine!’

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety received $400,000 in federal grant to begin working on a pilot program called ‘DriveSober Maine!’.

The federal money will be distributed among different state highway departments across Maine. ‘DriveSober Maine!’ aims at preventing drunk drivers getting behind the wheel and to save lives of Mainers.

‘Alcohol related traffic deaths doubled in the first six months of 2012 with 32 OUI deaths compared to 15 deaths during the same period in 2011. The numbers were alarming and a call to action,’ said Lauren Stewart, Director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

52 Maine highway agencies, including Houlton, Carioub, Presque Isle, and Fort Fairfield will work overtime to provide patrols at places and times where drunk driving is most common.

The  Bureau offered a few tips to drivers:

• Be responsible --If you will be drinking, plan not to drive.
• Designate a sober driver or find another way home by using a taxi or public transportation.
• Watch out for others -- If someone you know is drinking, do not let them get behind the wheel.

‘DriveSober Maine!’ began operation on December 1 and will continue until Labor Day 2013. In addition a special holiday enforcement crackdown begins Friday (12/14) and goes through New Years Day.

‘No one ever thinks that their holiday celebration will end in jail, in a hospital or in the morgue,” said Stewart.  “But combining alcohol and driving can lead to one of those three locations. That’s why we are stepping up enforcement of impaired drivers.’

Sign up for our newsletter to get more state and local news!