'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' kickoff event scheduled for Aug. 24 at farmers' market

Staff report
·1 min read
The Tuscarawas County Health Department will be partnering with agencies in Carroll and Harrison counties to distribute Naloxone.

DOVER ―- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2022 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over national campaign mobilization takes place between Friday and Sept. 5. To kick off this campaign, the Safe Communities Coalition and the Tuscarawas County Health Department will be at the Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 24. The farmers' market is at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds, 259 S. Tuscarawas Ave.

Representatives of Safe Communities, along with local law enforcement, will be providing education on the dangers of impaired driving and the importance of making smart decisions when behind the wheel. Games and giveaways will also be offered. Everyone is encouraged to stop by.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in 2021, impaired driving was a factor in 45% of the fatal crashes in Tuscarawas County. “By looking at the statistics we know that OVI education and enforcement is one of the most important traffic safety priorities in our county,” said Abbie Benton, safe communities coordinator at the Tuscarawas County Health Department. “Nearly half of the fatal crashes in 2021 involved some type of impairment.”

For more information, contact Benton at the Tuscarawas County Health Department at 330-343-5555, extension 153 or abenton@tchdnow.org.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Local campaign to discourage drunk driving starts Aug. 24