EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A statewide Labor Day campaign aimed at increasing patrols to catch drunk drivers launched on Thursday morning, Aug. 14, in El Paso.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials and law enforcement presented the “Drive Sober. No Regrets. Labor Day” drunk driving prevention campaign during an event at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at the El Paso Convention Center in Downtown El Paso.
Speakers included U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas, El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte, El Paso District Attorney James Montoya, and more, according to TxDOT.
As part of the campaign, local law enforcement will increase efforts to identify and arrest drunk drivers across Texas from Aug. 15 through Sept. 1, according to TxDOT.
Despite being entirely preventable, TxDOT said DUI-alcohol-related traffic crashes led to 1,066 deaths and 2,251 serious injuries in Texas last year. That’s one person killed every 8 hours by a drunk driver.
Additionally, this campaign is an important part of TxDOT’s Drive like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe.” initiative.
TxDOT said drive like a Texan is about embracing the pride, camaraderie and responsibility of being a Texan on the road.
Learn more at DriveLikeATexan.com.
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