MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR - The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in Oregon reports that: Every holiday season, we see a rise in drunk drivers and deadly crashes. More travel, bad weather, and drinking at holiday parties make the roads more dangerous. MCSO urges everyone to play it safe by planning ahead and making smart choices.
Alcohol-impaired driving is a serious problem that leads to deadly crashes, especially during the holidays. Between 2018 and 2022, nearly 5,000 people lost their lives in crashes involving alcohol during December. In December 2022 alone, 1,062 people died because of alcohol-impaired driving.
"Driving is a privilege, not a right," says Chief Deputy of Law Enforcement Carey Kaer. "We want everyone in our community to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season, and that means making responsible choices—especially when it comes to drinking and driving. The consequences of impaired driving are serious, lasting, and can affect your life forever."
- Plan ahead if you plan to drink. Don’t wait until after drinking to figure out how to get home.
- Before drinking, arrange a safe ride—either a designated driver, taxi, or rideshare service.
- If you can’t drive, hand your keys to someone sober.
- If a friend has been drinking, take their keys and help them find a safe way home.
MCSO will be joining several other law enforcement agencies for Operation Sober Drive ‘25 from December 31 to January 5. The mission will be focused on enhancing safe driving behaviors and preventing serious or fatal crashes by concentrating on the Fatal-5 driving behaviors, which include Speed, Occupant Safety, Lane Usage, Impaired Driving, and Distracted Driving.
Let's work together to keep our roads safe and make sure everyone gets home for the holidays.
