Over the past five years, an average of 300 fatalities were recorded due to drunk driving between Christmas and New Year's Day.
As a response, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has kicked off its annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which includes nationwide TV advertisements aimed at warning Americans to stay safe over the holidays and raise awareness of drunk driving.
“December is a busy time on our nation’s roads and we want people to travel safely,” said Elaine L. Chao, United States transportation secretary, in a statement. “We’re urging everyone to drive sober and plan a safe ride home before drinking at holiday celebrations and gatherings.”
The commercial, which takes place at the scene of a crash and shows a man sitting in the backseat of a police vehicle, warns about the risks and consequences of drunk driving.
Paired with the advertisement is a 360-degree virtual reality web experience, allowing a user to explore the scene of a drunk driving crash and interacts with victims, police, and EMTs. The SaferRide app is available for Android devices on Google Play, and Apple devices on the iTunes store
“This holiday season we’re reminding all motorists to drive sober, safely and responsibly,” said Heidi King, NHTSA deputy administrator in a statement. “Our law enforcement partners across the country will be on patrol to help protect the public from drunk drivers. Please help spread the word: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
In 2016, 781 people lost their lives in drunk-driving-related crashes in the month of December alone, according to the NHTSA.