The Storm Lake Police Department is taking part in a drunk driving prevention event this coming weekend.
“Saturation Saturday” will be held on August 24th. Storm Lake Police and other law enforcement agencies nationwide are cooperating with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to raise awareness against impaired driving.
“Saturation Saturday” was first launched during Labor Day season in Missouri in 2016, and the event went national in 2019. A press release states that high visibility law enforcement patrols and sobriety checkpoints are designed to take drunk and drugged drivers off the streets, and to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving to prevent dangerous situations from happening. According to research by the Centers for Disease Control, priority enforcement such as those planned for “Saturation Saturday” has been shown to reduce alcohol-related traffic deaths by up to 20 percent.
Someone in the nation is killed or injured by a drunk driver every 78 seconds. More than 13 thousand lives are lost in drunk driving accidents per year. Labor Day ranks among the most dangerous holidays on our nation’s roads due to alcohol-related crashes. Authorities urge those who plan to celebrate during the Labor Day season to plan ahead for a safe ride home. Parents are encouraged to talk to teens and young drivers about the risks of underage drinking, and the importance of making responsible choices.
