8-27-24 Police Urge Motorists to Drive Safely This Labor Day Weekend

Hawai‘i Police Department
Traffic Services Section
Torey D. Keltner, Program Manager
Phone: (808) 961-2305

Media Release

With traffic fatalities nearly double what they were this time last year, the Hawai’i Police Department is strongly urging residents and visitors to drive safely this Labor Day weekend with its annual public awareness campaign “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”. As part of the campaign, patrol officers in Ka‘ū, the largest district on island, are sign waving on Tuesday and Sunday afternoons, August 27 and September 1, to remind motorists to drive safely.

“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Torey Keltner, Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services program manager.

Expect increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints across Hawai‘i Island throughout the holiday weekend. “Our officers are committed to keeping our roads safe and will be actively monitoring for impaired drivers,” said Keltner.

Nationwide, Labor Day weekend is particularly deadly, with 490 fatal traffic crashes during the three-day holiday in 2022, the latest data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of those 490 traffic deaths, 39 percent involved a drunk driver. Locally, as of August 27, 2024, in Hawai’i County there have been 19 fatal crashes resulting in 21 fatalities with impairment by alcohol or drugs a factor in 63 percent of those deaths.

Hawai‘i Police Department offers the following driving tips for a safe holiday weekend:

• Before heading out, decide on a safe ride home. Use public transportation, rideshare services, or call a friend if you’re impaired.
• If you’re hosting an event, ensure your guests have access to safe transportation options.
• Be aware of the consequences: drunk driving offenders face fines, license suspensions, and possible imprisonment.

“Our goal is to ensure that everyone can enjoy their Labor Day Weekend without the fear of impaired drivers on the road,” said Keltner. “We ask for everyone’s cooperation in making smart, responsible choices.”

If you see an impaired driver on the road, please call 911.