Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign Targets Impaired Driving Over Winter Holidays

Nicholas Mistretta

SOMERVILLE — Law enforcement agencies in Somerset and Hunterdon counties will be stepping up patrols and impaired-driving enforcement now through New Year’s Day as part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” winter holiday campaign, officials announced.

Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald and Chief of Detectives Francisco Roman Jr. said that from December 10, 2025, through January 1, 2026, police across both counties will increase high-visibility enforcement focused on stopping drunk and impaired drivers and keeping local roads safe.

“Not only is driving impaired illegal, but it is also dangerous and never acceptable,” McDonald said in a statement. “Our law enforcement officers will be out in full force to pull over impaired drivers and remove them from the roads to ensure our community stays safe.”

The campaign runs in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which reports that the winter holiday period remains one of the deadliest times of year for alcohol-related crashes nationwide.

According to NHTSA data cited by the prosecutor’s office, 4,931 people were killed in December crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver between 2019 and 2023. In December 2023 alone, there were 1,038 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, and 697 of those involved a driver with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher — nearly twice the legal limit in most states.

“Drunk driving fatalities can be prevented when everyone keeps road safety in mind as they prepare for holiday celebrations,” McDonald said. “We ask everyone to follow the law and do their part to keep themselves and other road users safe throughout the winter holiday season.”

Officials urged residents to plan ahead if they intend to drink, stressing that people should not wait until after consuming alcohol to decide how to get home. Suggested safety steps include:

• Designating a sober driver before going out.
• Using a taxi or rideshare service if impaired.
• Handing car keys to a sober friend if you’ve been drinking.
• Stepping in when a friend or family member who has been drinking is considering driving — take the keys and help arrange a safe ride.
• Calling local law enforcement if you see a driver you suspect is impaired.

The message, prosecutors said, is simple: if you drive drunk, expect to be stopped.

Photo Credit: Somerset County Prosecutors Office