Whether you’re planning on hitting the road for an extended trip to visit relatives or just headed to see friends in the immediate area this Labor Day Weekend, the Manteca Police Department is encouraging everyone to do so safely.

As part of a nationwide effort to keep roadways safe during holidays, the agency will be participating in the ongoing “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign aimed at keeping local roadways safe during the holidays – deploying additional resources for the entirety of Labor Day Weekend to try and identify and remove drivers that are operating their vehicles under the influence.

The agency is reminding all drivers to do everything possible to protect themselves and their loved ones over the holiday weekend – including wearing a seatbelt, obeying posted speed limits, avoiding distracted driving, and never driving after consuming alcohol or other intoxicating substances.

“Whether travelling locally or taking a longer road trip to see friends and family, please have a game plan for how to get home safely,” Manteca Police Traffic Officer Daniel Peters said. “There is never a good excuse for driving after drinking or using drugs that impair.”

In addition to saturation patrols, the agency will also be conducting a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location tonight – hoping that the checkpoint will remind drivers for the entirety of the weekend that they need to make smart choices when it involves climbing behind the wheels and hitting roadways shared with other drivers.

In 2020, more than 1,150 people were killed in drunk driving related crashes in California. Approximately 30 percent of all traffic deaths that year involved drivers that were under the influence.

And being under the influence includes more than just alcohol.

“While drunk driving is a significant traffic safety problem, driving while impaired is not just from alcohol,” the Manteca Police said. “Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and marijuana may also impair.

“If you plan on drinking or taking medications with a driving warning label, let someone who is sober drive. If you see someone driving impaired, call 9-1-1.”

Funding for the additional manpower during the holiday weekend is being provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.