Officials Warn Otter Tail Drivers Against Buzzed and Drunk Driving
On December 12, the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Otter Tail County Safe Communities Coalition urged motorists to avoid drinking and driving during the winter holidays, stressing that buzzed driving is drunk driving. The advisory highlights rising holiday traffic and recent Minnesota crash data, and it asks residents to plan sober rides and report suspected impaired drivers.
The NHTSA and the Otter Tail County Safe Communities Coalition issued a joint advisory on December 12 reminding drivers that the winter holiday season brings special events and around the clock traffic, increasing the importance of sober driving. The release calls on residents to commit to the message Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving and to take practical steps before heading out for festivities.
Statewide statistics underline the warning. Last December in Minnesota there were more than 300 alcohol related crashes, resulting in seven deaths. Male drivers were more likely to be involved in fatal alcohol impaired crashes than female drivers. Drivers ages 21 to 34 had the highest involvement in fatal alcohol impaired crashes, followed by those ages 35 to 44. “These numbers highlight how certain groups remain at higher risk and how dangerous the holiday season can be when alcohol is involved,” officials said.
Local law enforcement joined the safety campaign and urged planning. Sgt. Allen Mekash said, “Saving lives starts with choosing to drive sober or finding a sober ride. Driving impaired, even just feeling buzzed, puts everyone on the road in danger. For some people, even one drink is too many to drive. We’re partnering with NHTSA to remind drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.”
The advisory asks drivers to plan for a sober ride, designate a sober driver, or give car keys to a sober person before drinking. If anyone observes a suspected drunk driver, they should call 911 or contact Otter Tail County non emergency lines to report the situation. The coalition and NHTSA point residents to additional guidance on impaired driving and safety planning.
For Otter Tail County residents, the message is practical and immediate. With holiday gatherings, winter weather and a steady stream of visitors, taking simple precautions now can reduce crashes and save lives. Officials said community participation in choosing sober rides and reporting dangerous driving will be the most effective tool to protect people on local roads this season.
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