The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published March 15, 2023

Sunrise Beach Police Police joining drunk driving campaign

SUNRISE BEACH – The Sunrise Beach Police Department (SBPD) is participating in a drunk driving campaign and a youth seat belt enforcement campaign.

According to the SBPD, drunk driving accidents account for nearly one-third of vehicle-related fatalities in the United States.

In 2022, 167 people were killed and 618 seriously injured on Missouri roadways in crashes involving at least one substance-impaired driver.

“What is most tragic is these crashes are clearly preventable,” a SBPD spokesman said. “Impaired driving is a crime, not an ‘accident’ and one of America’s most often-committed and deadliest crimes.”

The SBPD has received an overtime grant to step-up impaired driving enforcement efforts during the Spring Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign, which runs March 17 to April 19, 2023.

In addition, the department is joining with statewide law enforcement April 1-15 for a high visibility youth seat belt mobilization to help increase seat belt use among teens and reduce highway fatalities.

The SBPD said only 71.8 percent of Missouri teens wear their seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.

Six out of ten teen vehicle drivers and passengers killed in traffic crashes are unbuckled.

Under the Graduated Driver’s License law, teens are required to wear their seat belt as it’s a primary offense, meaning they can be pulled over solely for not wearing their seat belt.

Seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

Buckle Up and Arrive Alive.

For information on Missouri seatbelt usage, visit www.saveMOlives.com

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