TULSA, OK – [August 27, 2013] – The Tulsa Health Department’s Regional Prevention Coordinator (RPC) program reminds motorists that law enforcement personnel across the nation will be out on the front lines in the battle against drunk driving during the Labor Day weekend.
RPC joins law enforcement officers, state and local safety advocates and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in this year’s nationwide drunk driving crackdown, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which began August 16 and culminates on Labor Day.
Drunk driving continues to be one of the most deadly and harmful crimes in America today. Each year, drunk drivers and motorcycle riders are involved in crashes that take the lives of thousands of innocent men, women and children.
In 2011, there were 715 alcohol related crashes in Tulsa County, 532 of which occurred in the City of Tulsa resulting in 20 fatalities. Tulsa County alcohol related crashes increased in 2012 to 725 crashes in resulting in 31 fatalities county-wide
The deadly tally these highway statistics present is impossible to ignore, and Labor Day holidays are particularly dangerous for encountering drunk drivers.
“Labor Day is one of the most dangerous holidays of the year regarding alcohol-related crashes and fatalities on Oklahoma highways,” said Marianne Long, Tulsa Health Department’s RPC director. “In 2010, Oklahoma averaged .13 fatalities per hour during the Labor Day weekend holiday. We simply ask people not to get behind the wheel if they have been drinking”
Below are some simple tips to help motorists and passengers keep safe this Labor Day holiday period—and all year long.
Plan a safe way home before you start the Labor Day festivities;
Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
If you’re drunk, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
Call 1-800-222-4357 for AAA’s Tipsy Tow service for a free ride home in metro Tulsa;
If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement immediately;
If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while drunk, be a friend and take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
Regional Prevention Coordinators
Regional Prevention Coordinators is a grant funded program established to reduce the rates for underage drinking, adult binge drinking, and the non-medical use of prescription drugs within Tulsa County. The work of RPC is to focus on population-level change in Tulsa County by assisting communities in determining the substance abuse problems affecting their constituents and the most effective strategies to address these problems. RPC works with local coalitions and stakeholders to gather data, track trends, and provide training and technical assistance within the community. Additionally, RPC provides support for town hall meetings and assists with local alcohol and tobacco compliance operations.
View more information regarding the Regional Prevention Coordinator program at the Tulsa Health Department here.
