Michigan State Police and local law enforcement agencies are stepping up enforcement against impaired driving ahead of Labor Day, historically one of the deadliest periods for alcohol- and drug-related crashes.
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign started Aug. 14 and runs through Sept. 7. It includes increased patrols and a statewide paid media campaign highlighting the dangers of impaired driving.
From 2021 to 2025, 46 drivers were killed in Labor Day weekend crashes in Michigan, and 39.1% of those drivers were alcohol- or drug-impaired, according to the MSP Criminal Justice Information Center. In 2025 alone, of the state’s 1,002 fatal crashes, 248 (24.8%) were alcohol-involved, and 195 (19.5%) were drug-involved.
“Choosing to drive after consuming alcohol or drugs puts you, your passengers and everyone around you at serious risk,” said Alicia Sledge, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. “We urge people to make the right choice and find a sober ride home if they intend to take substances that impair driving.”
Sledge said the numbers are trending in a positive direction. Alcohol-involved fatalities dropped to 264 in 2025, a 14% decrease from 307 in 2024, while drug-involved fatalities fell to 210, a 23% drop from 272 in 2024.
“Impaired driving is still a serious issue, but seeing these numbers move in the right direction is encouraging,” Sledge said. “The drop in the number of fatalities shows that outreach and enforcement efforts under the SAFER by 2030 initiative are having a positive impact.”
SAFER by 2030 is a statewide effort among agencies and traffic safety partners to reduce roadway fatalities 30% by 2030, with a focus on awareness, engagement, and enforcement.
In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, though drivers can be arrested at any level if an officer believes they are impaired.
The campaign is administered by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, with federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More information is available on the OHSP impaired-driving webpage.
