As the summer travel season wraps up, the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) is reminding drivers to stay safe and be responsible by never driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
“The community’s well-being is our top priority, so we’re asking that if you know you’ll be out drinking, have a game plan for how to get home safely,” said Chief Mark G. Stainbrook. “There is never a good excuse for driving after drinking or using drugs that impair.”
The BHPD asks residents to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families by buckling up, avoiding distractions behind the wheel, following the speed limit, and not driving impaired.
To help keep our community safe, the BHPD will have additional officers on patrol from Aug. 16 through Labor Day (Sept. 4), looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The additional efforts to prevent impaired driving are part of a national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
In addition to patrols, the BHPD will hold a DUI Checkpoint on Sept. 8 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on North Santa Monica Boulevard at Crescent Drive.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 13,384 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2021— one person every 39 minutes.
While drunk driving is a significant traffic safety problem, driving while impaired is not just from alcohol. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and cannabis products may also impair. Anyone who plans to drink or take medications with a driving warning label is encouraged to let someone sober drive.
