U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The 2022 Impaired Driving national enforcement mobilization "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" goes into effect across the country from August 17 to September 5, 2022. The Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety (VIOHS) is working alongside the VI Police Department (VIPD) & the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to decrease impaired driving, which is one of the deadliest and most often committed - yet preventable – crimes and a serious safety concern in our community.
VIOHS recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
Remember that it is NEVER okay to drink and drive. Even if you have had only one alcoholic beverage, plan to designate a sober driver to get home safely.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact 911, provide vehicle make, model, license plate (if obtained) & direction traveled.
Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and plan to get your friend home safely.
If you are the designated sober driver, ensure that you do not drink so you can keep that promise of safety to yourself, your friends, and your passengers. It may be a long night, but your passengers and all other road users are counting on you. Take the role of a designated sober driver seriously. Always wear your seat belt & follow the speed limit.
"Our priority is to keep people safe. So, we are asking everyone to party with a plan if they know they will be out drinking," said VI Police Commissioner Ray Martinez. “Our community members need to commit to keeping our roads free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe, fun-filled end of summer and Labor Day weekend. Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
For more information on impaired driving, contact the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety through the Impaired Driving Coordinator K’ Tonya Petrus at k’tonya.petrus@vi.gov or the Law Enforcement Liaison, Danielle Cranston at danielle.cranston@vipd.vi.gov. You may also contact the office via telephone at (340) 772-3025.