The last big weekend of the summer is upon us and all indications point towards nice weather and plenty of opportunities for spending time outdoors with friends and family.

While this is a great opportunity to enjoy some burgers and beers, Labor Day weekend is one of the deadlier weekends for road travel throughout the year.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 500 people died in vehicle crashes in 2022 during Labor Day weekend.

Nearly half of them involved a drunk driver, with 25% of those drivers being nearly twice the legal blood alcohol limit.

The grim statistics are just part of an epidemic in the United States, with an average of one death per 39 minutes. That comes out to more than 13,000 lives lost due to drunk driving each year.

In order to combat this, the NHTSA is currently putting on their annual “Drive sober or get pulled over” campaign.

“During the Labor Day holiday period, we typically see an increase in drunk-driving deaths — and that’s why you’ll likely see more law enforcement on the roads. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, which runs from Aug. 14-Sept. 2, aims to educate people about the dangers and consequences of driving drunk,” says the NHTSA website.

The campaign makes the following suggestions.

≤ Before drinking, plan a safe and sober ride home.

≤ Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.

≤ If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.

≤ If you see an impaired driver, call 911. And always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.

Taking these steps can help safe lives, so this weekend, make sure you don’t let a bad decision ruin, or end, your life.