Rabun Sheriff: ‘Drive sober, or get pulled over’

The holidays are the perfect time to enjoy friends and family at festive gatherings.

But before you drive home after a glass of spiked eggnog, Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols wants you to remember that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not tolerated and violators will be prosecuted.

The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to get drunk drivers off the roads and help save lives.

The sheriff’s office will be participating in the ‘Drive sober, or get pulled over’ campaign that is sponsored by the NHTSA,” Nichols said. “We will be increasing patrol on the roadways for impaired driving, whether that be drugs or alcohol. We’ll be partnering with other cities within Rabun County and of course Georgia State Patrol as well.”

Sadly, the statistics show that a staggering number of people take to the roads while under the influence, putting their lives, and others, at risk.

“Everyday almost 29 people die in alcohol-related accidents,” Nichols said. “That’s one almost every 50 minutes. That is just not acceptable.”

Furthermore, Nichols educated on just how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel after a few drinks.

“Alcohol is a depressant and it reduces the function of the brain which impairs your thinking, your muscle coordination, your reasoning…Which if you’re driving and you have to make a turn, it usually always leads to a crash,” he said.

Drunk driving isn’t the only risk on the road: Drug-impaired driving is also an increasing problem on our roads.

“One thing that’s just as dangerous as being under the influence of alcohol on the roads, is being under the influence of drugs behind the wheel. Substances like marijuana, meth or even prescribed medications could put you and others on the road at risk,” Nichols said.

Nichols encouraged residents to have a great time this holiday season, but just make sure to have a plan before you get behind the wheel while under the influence.