The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is teaming up with Carbon County Police to share the message about the dangers of drunken driving.

According to NHTSA, 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020.

“December is a busy time on the roads. We know everyone is rushing around during the weeks leading up to the holidays, preparing for holiday gatherings and getting into the seasonal mood,” said Officer Joel Gulla, Lehighton Police Department and Carbon County Coordinator for the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program. “If you plan to head out to festivities, make sure you plan a sober ride home, because driving drunk should never be an option. Even one drink is one drink too many if you’re the driver.”

Carbon County Police recommend these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:

• Remember that it is never OK to drink and drive. Even those who have had only one alcoholic beverage should designate a sober driver or plan to use a ride service to get home safely.

• If available, they should use their community’s sober ride program, UBER or LYFT

• If you see a drunken driver on the road, contact 911.

• Those with a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get friends home safely.

For more information about the Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving campaign, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.