The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office is increasing patrols as part of a nationwide campaign aimed at removing impaired drivers from the roads during the closing weeks of summer.
Additional deputies in marked patrol vehicles will work during evening and nighttime hours through Labor Day as part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign.
The Sheriff’s Office said deputies will enforce all traffic laws while concentrating on detecting drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs. Overtime for the additional deputies is being paid through a mini-grant funded by the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.
The Lancaster County operation is part of a national high-visibility enforcement campaign running from August 19 through Labor Day, a period when many families and communities are on the roads, underscoring a shared commitment to safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said alcohol-impaired drivers were involved in 30 percent of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2024. Those crashes claimed 11,904 lives—an average of one death every 44 minutes. The total was nearly four percent lower than in 2023.
Federal data also show men between the ages of 21 and 34 made up the largest demographic group of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2024. Fatal crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver occurred at three times the rate at night as during the day.
The national effort also addresses drug-impaired driving. NHTSA warns that cannabis, illegal drugs, and some prescription medications can affect a person’s ability to drive safely. A driver impaired by medication or another drug can face a DUI charge even if no alcohol is involved.
Authorities recommend arranging transportation before drinking, designating a sober driver, or using a taxi or rideshare service to prevent impaired driving and save lives. Call 911 if you see a suspected impaired driver.