NEWS RELEASE
COLORADO STATE PATROL
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Whether you are headed to your annual holiday office party or just putting together an informal hangout with friends, take the time to make a plan for a sober ride home before you leave for the celebration.
Last year, impaired driving deaths increased to 278 statewide, a 6% increase from 2021.
The most common day of the week for these injury or fatal impaired crashes was Sunday from midnight to 3 a.m. followed closely by Saturday from 9 through the 11 p.m. hour.
“Having a good time doesn’t give you an excuse to become a party hazard on our roadways,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.
“It takes just a few minutes to pick an option for a sober ride. Know that choice before you head out so you don’t become a liability to your employer, your friends or your community.”
In 2022, the Colorado State Patrol investigated 2,079 impaired driving crashes. Impaired driving impacts every community across the state, but the top five counties for impaired driving crashes last year were:
- Adams - 251
- El Paso - 234
- Jefferson - 180
- Weld - 138
- Larimer - 132
“Guessing who is the least intoxicated person at the party to serve as the driver is a foolish and dangerous game,” stated Col. Packard. “Take the guesswork out of it by planning ahead. Odds are you will be wrong anyway and this poor decision will place your life and many others in harm’s way.”
The message is simple. If you plan on going out and drinking or taking drugs as a part of that event, you must also include a sober ride home on your preparation list. If you can’t or don’t want to stay at the party’s location until you are sober, there are many options: ride shares, taxis, public transportation, a sober friend/family member, or walk.
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