Don’t drink and drive. You’ve heard this message from law enforcement hundreds of times, but has it really hit home? Nearly half of all fatal crashes in South Carolina involve an impaired driver. Too many people are still taking risks that lead to their own death or the loss of an innocent life nearly every day right here in our state. Drinking and driving is a life-or-death choice. Before you make that choice, think about this: Who would you leave behind if you were killed in a drunk driving collision? Whose life would you selfishly take if you lived through the crash? If you survive, you’ll have plenty of time to think about your choice behind bars. Impaired drivers are on the radar of South Carolina law enforcement. More than 16,000 DUI arrests were made in South Carolina last year.
Because in South Carolina...it's Sober or Slammer.
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Conducir un vehículo estando afectado por el alcohol continúa siendo el crimen violento que más se comete en los Estados Unidos. Durante el año 2015, la policía de Carolina del Sur arrestó a casi 22,000 personas por conducir vehículos bajo la influencia del alcohol (DUI, por sus siglas en inglés). Sin embargo, la policía no puede estar en todos los lugares a la misma vez; así que muchos conductores afectados por el alcohol nunca son detenidos.
Una clave en la guerra contra el manejo de vehículos estando afectado por el alcohol es la disuasión. Es de suma importancia que los conductores sepan que ellos se enfrentan a una amenaza real de ser aprendidos si deciden tomar y manejar, y tienen que entender que el castigo es severo. La manera de lograr esta meta es a través de un gran esfuerzo de hacer cumplir la ley y de educar al público.
¡Sobrio o Sentenciado! es una campaña estatal de jurisdicción total y alta visibilidad para hacer cumplir las leyes contra el DUI que es dirigida por el Departamento de la Policía de Carolina del Sur. La meta de ¡Sobrio o Sentenciado! es la de reducir los choques asociados con el alcohol, los accidentes y las muertes en las carreteras a través de la reducción de personas manejando afectadas por el alcohol. Para alcanzar esta meta, los destacamentos policiales estatales y municipales harán un frente unido fuerte y visible para hacer cumplir las leyes de Carolina del Sur contra el manejo de vehículos bajo la influencia del alcohol. Este cumplimiento será combinado con una campaña pública de educación e información sobre las consecuencias diversas y severas que acarrean un arresto por DUI.
Driving Under the Influence Laws in South Carolina
In South Carolina, driving under the influence (DUI) is defined as operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, with penalties that escalate for repeat offenses. Read more about the South Carolina's laws on driving under the influence here.
The Facts About DUI
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that about 32% of all traffic collision fatalities in the United States involved a drunk driver.
- There were 13,524 deaths from drunk-driving collisions in 2022.
- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s (SCDPS) statistics for 2018-2022 show that there were 28,083 DUI-related collisions reported statewide.
How to Spot an Impaired Driver
As a defensive driver, you should always be aware of what the drivers around you are doing. Below are some signs that may indicate that the driver of a vehicle is impaired. Most impaired drivers are either overly cautious or reckless. Be on the lookout for drivers who are:
- Making unusually wide turns.
- Straddling the centerline or driving with their tires on the centerline.
- Driving with head out the window, or driving with all car windows down in very cold weather.
- Almost hitting another vehicle or other object or person.
- Weaving or swerving.
- Driving on the shoulder or in the emergency lane.
- Driving with excessive speed or very slow speed.
- Stopping without apparent cause.
- Following too closely.
- Drifting or braking erratically.
- Driving in or crossing into opposite lanes of traffic.
- Changing speeds rapidly or very slowly
How to Protect Yourself from an Impaired Driver
If you believe a driver is impaired, there are several things you should do to get yourself and others out of harm’s way:
- Stay back. If you are driving behind someone you suspect is impaired, maintain a greater following distance. Do not try to pass that vehicle because the driver may try to swerve into your car.
- Turn off the roadway. If you think there is an impaired driver behind you, turn right at the closest possible location and let the suspected impaired driver pass.
- If the impaired driver is coming straight at you, slow down quickly. At the same time, pull as far to the right as possible. Do whatever you have to do to avoid a head-on collision.
- Report the driver to law enforcement. Once you get safely away from the impaired driver, you should report the driver to the nearest law enforcement agency as soon as possible. You may contact the Highway Patrol from your cellular phone by dialing *HP. Be prepared to provide a description of the vehicle, the vehicle’s license plate number and the location and direction of travel of the vehicle.