Want to Celebrate Freedom this Fourth of July? TxDOT Reminds Texans That Drinking and Driving Will Result in Jail.

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AUSTIN, Texas, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fourth of July holiday consistently ranks as one of the deadliest holiday weekends for traffic accidents. Statistics gathered by NHTSA over the past 25 years show that, on average, about half of all deadly traffic crashes over the July Fourth holiday are related to alcohol. Last year, in Texas there were 337 alcohol related traffic crashes over the July Fourth holiday weekend.

That's why TxDOT, law enforcement officials, and other key partners are working together this Fourth of July and increasing their presence across the state as part of a statewide High Visibility Enforcement effort.

Texans will notice an increased presence of law enforcement officials during the Fourth of July weekend as part of an aggressive crackdown on impaired drivers. DPS and other law enforcement agencies throughout Texas have received federal grants to increase enforcement efforts over the holiday weekend.

"TxDOT is proud to be a part of the high visibility enforcement weekend because it works," said Carol T. Rawson, P.E., TxDOT, Traffic Operations Director. "The success we've seen in jurisdictions across the state reinforces the message that driving while intoxicated will not be tolerated in Texas." The Fourth of July is about celebrating freedom –and if people choose to drink and drive, they stand to lose that freedom and end up in jail. If you plan on drinking make sure you have a P.A.S.S., a Person Appointed to Stay Sober.

In the state of Texas, as well as the rest of the U.S., anyone driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher is considered legally impaired. The consequences for the crime of driving while intoxicated are serious and real. Impaired drivers risk killing, disabling, disfiguring, and injuring themselves and others – sometimes their own friends and family. Along with all these potential consequences, violators also often face other significant personal and financial costs.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/KnowWhenToPass to learn more about law enforcement's fight against impaired driving and what you can do to stay safe on the roads.

The Texas Department of Transportation

The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its approximately 12,000 employees strive to empower local leaders to solve local transportation problems, and to use new financial tools, including tolling and public-private partnerships, to reduce congestion and pave the way for future economic growth while enhancing safety, improving air quality and preserving the value of the state's transportation assets. Find out more at www.txdot.gov. Fan us on Facebook www.facebook.com/txdot. Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/txdot.

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SOURCE Texas Department of Transportation