TxDOT Teams with NASCAR Sensation Kyle Larson, Law Enforcement to Curb Drunk Driving During Holiday Season
TxDOT Teams with NASCAR Sensation Kyle Larson, Law Enforcement to Curb Drunk Driving During Holiday Season
As the holiday season rings in festivities and family gatherings, the Texas Department of Transportation is proud to team with 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson in an effort to remind party goers to share the gift of a sober ride as part of their seasonal goodwill.
I may drive faster speeds than most, but it doesnt take a professional to know that you must stay sober to drive safely, Larson said. Getting thrown in jail or landing in the hospital will not only wreck your holidays, but also will wreck your life. From one driver to another, I ask everyone to find a sober ride and dont drink and drive.
Larsons message is complementing the extra hours law enforcement officers across Texas have been putting in since Dec. 13 through Jan. 1 to crack down on drunk driving. Last year during the New Years holiday reporting period (from Dec. 28 through Jan. 1), there were 149 DWI alcohol-related traffic crashes in Texas, resulting in 16 fatalities and 33 serious injuries. In an effort to curb this dangerous holiday trend, TxDOT is encouraging people to plan for a sober ride home by visiting soberrides.org.
Drinking and driving is a serious issue in Texas and its just unacceptable that we lose so many lives each year to something thats completely preventable, said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director. We are grateful to NTT DATA for connecting us with Kyle Larson who can help us communicate this critical life-saving message.
NTT DATA is a leading global IT services provider that partners with TxDOT to improve IT and other customer services for Texans.
We are honored to stand beside TxDOT and leverage our relationship with Kyle Larson to promote this incredibly important campaign, said John McCain, President and CEO, NTT DATA, Inc.
TxDOT also is partnering this month with the Texas Hospitality Association, which is distributing sober ride messages statewide in restaurants, bars and stores where alcohol is sold. In Austin, TxDOT and Capital Metro are encouraging people to plan for their safe trip by going to soberrides.org to find a bus, cab or train as their sober ride home.
For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Media Relations at MediaRelations@txdot.gov or (512) 463-8700.
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail, and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its 11,000 employees are committed to working with others to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Texas by maintaining a safe system, addressing congestion, connecting Texas communities, and being a Best in Class state agency. Find out more at www.txdot.gov. Like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/txdot; and follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/txdot.
