Now through Labor Day weekend, Michigan State Police is increasing enforcement regarding impaired driving in an effort to curb car accidents caused by intoxicated drivers.

Forty-four people were killed in car accidents in Michigan over the Labor Day holiday weekend between 2019 and 2023, with 43.2% of those drivers killed being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police hope to reduce car accidents caused by impaired driving during the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

“Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after you’ve been drinking or taking drugs endangers you, your passengers, and everyone else on the road,” said Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). “The aim of the enforcement campaign is to drastically reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired driving.”

Police will be paying close attention to drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol throughout the three-week period from Friday, August 16-Monday, September 2. Anyone caught driving with a BAC of .08 or higher could be arrested, regardless of whether they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The OHSP is also launching a new media campaign to increase awareness about the dangers of impaired driving. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign emphasizes the importance of finding a sober ride home if someone plans on consuming substances that could impair their ability to drive.