Nationwide impaired driving-related incidents have seen a rise. One person is killed, on average, about every forty-five minutes in a drunk-driving crash. That is more than eleven thousand lives senselessly lost each year. The Oceanside Police Department has invested in providing officers with additional training to ensure we are best equipped to spot hazardous drivers on our roadways.
• Plan ahead. If you plan to drink alcohol or use drugs, make plans so that you do not have to drive.
• Get a ride home. If you have been drinking alcohol and/or using drugs, get a ride home with a driver who has not been drinking or using drugs, use a rideshare service, or call a taxi.
• Agree on a trusted designated driver ahead of time. If you are with a group, agree on a trusted designated driver in the group who will not drink alcohol or use drugs.
• Be aware of prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. It’s not just alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drugs that can impair your ability to drive. Many types of prescription medications and some over-the-counter medicines will also affect your ability to drive safely. Do not get behind the wheel if you are unfamiliar with how a medicine may affect you. Do not drive if your doctor advises you not to after using a prescription.
• Don’t let your friends drive while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.
• Never get in a vehicle with an impaired driver.
• If you’re the host of a gathering where alcohol or drugs will be available, look out for your guests and ensure they have a plan to get home safely.
• Always wear a seat belt on every trip. Whether you’re the driver or a passenger. Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of death or serious injury in a crash by about half.
We have zero tolerance for those that put others in harm’s way by getting behind the wheel impaired. Keeping our streets safe is a responsibility we all share. Please do your part by sharing the road safely.
Stay up to date on the latest information from the Oceanside Police Department. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for additional resources, safety tips, and upcoming department events. We have a variety of career opportunities available at the Oceanside Police Department, from police officer positions to professional staff careers. If you are willing to work hard, be nice, and help change lives, there is a career for you at the Oceanside Police Department. Visit joinopd.net to learn more about job openings.
Thank you, and be safe.
