Drinking and driving costs more than your drinks.

Don’t pay with your livelihood or worse, your life. Make the safer (and cheaper) choice. Plan a sober ride.

2023 Was Damaging in Virginia

Alcohol-Related Crashes

Fatalities

Drinking Drivers Killed

Injured

DUI Convictions

Virginia’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a high-visibility enforcement campaign aimed at preventing impaired driving and improving safety for all road users through awareness messaging and increased law enforcement presence on the road. Virginia’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is supported by a grant from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to the Virginia-based nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP).

Since the start of the campaign in 2002, there has been notable progress in reducing drunk driving in Virginia. Alcohol-related traffic crashes have decreased by 38%, fatalities have decreased by 18%, and injuries have been nearly halved (46%) (2001 vs.2023, Virginia DMV).

Virginia’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

The Dangers of Drunk Driving

The ripple effect of one poor decision can be devastating and long-lasting.

When you choose to drink and drive, you’re not just putting yourself at risk—you’re endangering everyone on the road. Alcohol impairs your ability to make quick decisions, reduces your coordination, and slows your reaction time, all of which are crucial for safe driving. The statistics are sobering: according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 30 people die every day in the United States as a result of drunk driving crashes. That’s one person every 48 minutes. Virginia and the Washington-metropolitan area are not immune to these dangers. Each year, countless families are torn apart by the loss of a loved one in a drunk-driving accident.

But the consequences extend beyond the immediate aftermath of a crash. A DUI conviction can lead to jail time, heavy fines, loss of your driver’s license, and increased insurance premiums. It can also impact your employment opportunities and personal relationships.

At WRAP, we believe that awareness and education are the keys to preventing drunk driving. We’re committed to changing behaviors and fostering a culture of responsibility on the roads. Choosing not to drink and drive is more than just a legal obligation; it’s a moral responsibility to your community. The moment you get behind the wheel after drinking, you’re making a choice that could cost lives.

We encourage everyone to think twice before getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. If you’ve been drinking, use one of the many available options for a safe and sober ride home. Whether it’s calling a friend, using a rideshare service, or staying overnight at a local hotel, there are countless ways to avoid putting yourself and others at risk.

Plan ahead if you know you’ll be drinking—arrange for a designated driver, or explore public transportation options.

Know the Law

Virginia has some of the strongest drunk driving laws in the nation, which also apply to drugged driving.

Know the lives

Experience real stories from real Virginians that reveal the devastating consequences of impaired driving.

Image of Melissa Haislip — On June 18, 2014, Vanessa Haislip’s world stopped when her daughter, Melissa, a kind-hearted young woman with a passion for life, was taken from her by a drunk driver. The crash was preventable, a devastating reminder of the ripple effects one bad decision can have. Every year, Vanessa shares Melissa’s story with young people, urging them to think twice before getting behind the wheel: “Call a friend. Call an Uber. It’s that simple. There’s no excuse not to.”

image of the crash site of Ellen Kamilakis; the other driver's car's front end is destroyed — Ellen’s life changed forever when an impaired driver struck her vehicle head-on in Northern Virginia. Driving her Jeep along a four-lane road, Ellen had no time to react as the oncoming car intentionally veered into her lane, hitting her with immense force. Her vehicle was pushed across lanes and onto a nearby bike path, leaving her disoriented but alive. As a transportation communications professional, Ellen was no stranger to alcohol-related crash stories, but this time, it was her own.

image of Gregory Congleton, a victim of drunk driving, holding an infant — Brock Congleton lost his father to a drunk driving crash in Prince George County, Virginia. After years of battling alcoholism, Brock’s father was driving under the influence when his car flipped three times on a back road. Though once a devoted father and community member, his relationship with alcohol had spiraled, ultimately costing him his life. Brock’s story is a poignant reminder of how deeply addiction and impaired driving can affect families and communities.

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SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT

Our Social Media Toolkit equips law enforcement with templates for post copy and images to support anti-drunk driving efforts. Download these resources to enhance your agency’s digital outreach and promote safer communities.