Authorities Give 4th of July Safety Tips

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

With the time of celebration coming for the 4th, the Nebraska Department of Transportation wants to make sure residents sober up before driving.

In support of state and law enforcement’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see increased enforcement on Nebraska roads with zero tolerance for those who drive impaired.

“We want to be very clear about the consequences of drunk driving,” said Mark Segerstrom, Administrator, Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office. “In every state in this country, drunk driving is illegal. It’s also incredibly deadly, and a risk we don’t want to see people take.”

Segerstrom reminds everyone to commit to only driving 100-percent sober this Fourth of July,. Celebrate with a plan.

AAA Tips on Multi-State Road Travels

Traffic regulations vary across the country and so do fines, says AAA. It’s important to know the rules of the road before heading out on a multi-state drive.

Currently, 19 states ban handheld cellphone use while driving. Forty-five states adopted primary enforcement texting while driving bans for all drivers. Nebraska is one of only three states (NE, SD, OH) to adopt a secondary enforcement law.

Move Over Laws require that when approaching a first-responder providing assistance near a multi-lane roadway, merge over one lane to give them the space they need to safely perform their duties. If space is not available, reduce your speed and approach with care.

Nebraska State Patrol Launching Independence Day Enforcement

Troopers will be working overtime over the next few days, looking to keep drunk drivers off the road during the days surrounding Independence Day.

“The Fourth of July makes for one of the busiest travel times of the summer,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Troopers will be on the road both to watch for dangerous driving and to help anyone in need of assistance. Let’s all work together to keep Nebraska roads safe as we celebrate Independence Day.”

The operation will include saturation patrols and vehicle checkpoints on roads in and around counties identified by NDOT-HSO as priority counties because of their high incidence of crashes that result in personal injury or death.