DUI Checkpoints Set Up Across Green Country For New Year's Eve Weekend

Several DUI checkpoints will be set up this weekend across Green Country in an effort to prevent crashes on one of the most notorious drinking holidays of the year.

National Highway Safety data says every single day, 37 people in the US die from drunk driving crashes.

An expert with AAA said there are too many options now to excuse drinking and driving.

The champagne and late nights make New Year’s Eve one of the deadliest days of the year for alcohol-related deaths year after year.

In Oklahoma, nearly 2700 crashes happened during the 2021 holiday season, and more than 5 percent of those involved alcohol or drugs.

“That celebration does get taken too far and can get cut short by bad decisions," said Rylie Fletcher with AAA Oklahoma. 

Fletcher said there are tons of options and the small amount to pay for a rideshare is worth your life or the fines from a DUI crash.

"Never think you are okay to drive," she said. "Even one drink can lead to bad decisions on the roadways.”

This year, many checkpoints will be set up across the state for agents to get impaired drivers off the road.

Muskogee County, Tulsa County, and Creek County will have checkpoints set up Friday night, Mayes County will have checkpoints on Saturday, and several more counties will also have checkpoints this weekend.

“You can expect to get pulled over and have a hefty fine in addition to other consequences that might happen from your actions," she said.

She wants to remind people DUI crashes can also include drugs like prescription drugs and marijuana.

Fletcher says drunk driving numbers are decreasing slightly, but one crash is too many.

“Even if the number is just one, that is too many crashes due to impaired driving," she said.

AAA also said it’s important to slow down and move over if you see flashing lights from crashes this weekend.