RALEIGH – Thank you, to every driver who stopped, thought twice and took another way home before getting behind the wheel impaired over the last two weeks. You’re learning that #yoursmarterthanthat

Just released numbers from law enforcement agencies around the state may reveal that awareness spurred by events such as the Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s latest Booze It & Lose It: Operation Fire Cracker campaign is saving more lives.
During the latest GHSP campaign, which ran from June 27, through July 10, state and local law enforcement agencies targeted impaired drivers with innovative and extensive driving enforcement and education efforts. Nearly every law enforcement agency in the state participated in the campaign by continually holding sobriety checkpoints in all North Carolina counties. The campaign has proven particularly effective in catching impaired drivers and helping combat impaired driving fatalities.
This year’s Operation Firecracker campaign netted 1,373 total arrests. That’s 76 fewer than the 1,449 arrests made during the same time frame last year.

“This means that drivers are getting it,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.
“They are learning to make better choices instead of driving while impaired. Campaigns like these are all about saving lives, and these results show North Carolinians are getting that message,” added Ezzell.

The Booze It & Lose It campaign complements the NC Vision Zero initiative, which also aims to save lives on North Carolina roadways. The goal is to reach zero traffic-related fatalities through coordinated agency-to-agency efforts that help reduce risky driving behaviors by changing the overall traffic safety culture