North Carolina Launches Statewide Labor Day Impaired Driving Campaign

North Carolina officials have launched the annual Labor Day “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, a statewide enforcement effort running through September 7 aimed at reducing impaired driving during the busy holiday travel period. The campaign involves increased saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints to deter drunk driving, which remains a significant safety concern, as last year’s enforcement period saw 444 alcohol-involved crashes with 11 fatalities. Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, emphasized that impaired driving is preventable and urged motorists to prioritize safety and make smart decisions behind the wheel. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, N.C. Board of Transportation Chairman Tony Lathrop, and AAA’s Tiffany Wright highlighted the need for collaborative efforts including enforcement, engineering, and public outreach to improve road safety. Lathrop stressed the importance of safe driving behaviors such as not speeding, avoiding distractions, always wearing seat belts, and never driving under the influence. This campaign aims to create heightened visibility and deterrence to protect motorists during one of the most dangerous travel times of the year.