Drive Sober - Or Don't Drive at All!
August 23, 2019
Drunk driving is a deadly epidemic that takes the lives of more than 10,000 people each year, on average. Which is why all week this week [and every week] we celebrate Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Week. This is in conjunction with Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over, which is the message for motorcycle riders. These are important reminders, and these weeks are celebrated before major holidays, in this case, the upcoming Labor Day Weekend.
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, but it’s also one of the deadliest times on the road. During the 2017 Labor Day holiday weekend, 376 people died in traffic crashes — 36% of those crashes involved a drunk driver. The total number of people killed by drunk driving that year? 10,874. Too many.
This is always an important message, which is why we stress that even though this week is the official week that we recognize and repeat this slogan, the sentiment is one you should carry with you every time you contemplate getting behind the wheel of a car.
Especially in an area like the Philadelphia Region. Between subway, train, trolleys, and buses, almost every corner of the 5-counties (Philly, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester) served by SEPTA is accessible by public transportation - which is why it's such a no-brainer that no one in this region has any excuse to get behind the wheel of a car while impaired.
We don't remind you of this to kill your buzz, we remind you that there are safe ways to enjoy yourself - and SEPTA is here to help.
We're all about having fun. We even like helping that fun - which is why we have so many SEPTA Perks at bars and restaurants where you can let loose, let your hair down, and have a few, while saving some cash with your SEPTA Key. We just urge you to also use that SEPTA Key to make the right choice when it's time to get home.
If you, or the company you were with, did drive, leave your car keys in your pocket or purse, and switch to your SEPTA Key to get home safely. We're the easiest answer for a designated driver. No one wants to put hard-earned money towards a ticket for a DUI. DUIs are not cheap.
-
Traffic fine: $300 - $10,000 depending on blood alcohol content and number of offenses
-
Towing vehicle: $50 flat fee plus mileage
-
Impound: $75-$175 per day
-
Legal fees: $2,000-$8,000 or more
-
Alcohol evaluation: $35-$100
-
Accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD): $100-$1,800
-
Education and treatment: $100-$1,000 or more
-
License restoration: $25 non-commercial, $75 commercial
-
Insurance premium: increase of about $1,000 a year or cancellation of policy
No one also wants to spend the energy in a courtroom explaining the choices that led to it, and even worse, no one should have to lose their life because of what was supposed to be a fun night. There are so many consequences of driving impaired. None of them are worth the risk.
So don't. Make it easy. Make the safe choice. Make SEPTA your designated driver, and have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend.
