From August 19 through September 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be working alongside local law enforcement to deter drunk driving and prevent tragedies during the Labor Day holiday weekend. The message is clear: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. 

During the 2024 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. August 30 – 5:59 a.m. September 3), there were 505 traffic crash fatalities nationwide.Of these 505 fatalities, 34% (170) involved a drunk driver. Seventy-seven percent of the impaired drivers killed had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher. Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday in 2024, 40% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.  

If a driver intends to drink during a Labor Day festivity, he or she should plan ahead for a safe ride home by securing a designated driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment and endangers others on the road.  

If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give theirkeys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely.When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contactlocal law enforcement.  

This Labor Day weekend, law enforcement will be on the lookout for impaired drivers by conducting high visibility patrols. If you’re drinking, don’t get behind the wheel. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. 

For more information on impaired driving, visit NHTSA.gov/DrunkDriving.