This upcoming Independence Day, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers will once again be handing out something that drivers will be happy to receive. Ohioans who contribute to a safe holiday by choosing to be a designated driver can receive a free travel coffee mug. The free mugs are part of a holiday educational effort entitled, Designate a Driver. It’s about Safety!

Although the number of alcohol-related crashes in Ohio has decreased in recent years, the organizations involved in this project recognize the need to further reduce preventable alcohol-related crashes. By planning to be a designated driver, Ohioans can directly contribute to a safe and fun holiday.

In association with Ohioans for Responsible Drinking, the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Clear Channel Ohio, and BP, 42,000 travel mugs will be distributed to drivers throughout the state. The mugs can be taken to any participating Ohio BP location from June 29 through July 4 to receive free coffee refills.

The three major summer travel holidays, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day are traditionally among the deadliest times of the year on Ohio roadways. Last year, 31 people were killed on Ohio roads during these three holiday periods, which marked the lowest number of fatalities for the three summer holidays combined in more than a decade.

Last year, the designated driver program significantly contributed to the reduction of alcohol-related fatalities. Even with a longer holiday reporting period than the previous year, Ohio experienced a decrease in traffic fatalities over the 2000 Independence Day holiday, as compared with 1999. This upcoming 4th of July, state troopers will increase patrols targeting impaired drivers, in an effort to prevent alcohol-related crashes.

The Patrol advocates that Ohioans should not be misled by the common misconception that only visibly drunk drivers pose a safety risk. The term "drunk driving" inaccurately characterizes the problem of alcohol-related crashes. In fact, many alcohol-impaired drivers do not appear drunk. Research shows that even very small amounts of alcohol can impair driving skills. Therefore, the term alcohol-impaired driving is a more accurate description of what is commonly referred to as drunk driving. Please keep this in mind before you get behind the wheel.

The Patrol believes that public education and awareness must accompany law enforcement to be effective and save lives. The Designate a Driver. It’s about Safety! effort accomplishes this by partnering with other state and private agencies. Ohioans for Responsible Drinking, a non-profit organization, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety are providing funding for the promotion, and BP is providing the coffee free of charge during the holiday.

The Patrol is proud to partner with these organizations because they are taking tangible steps to directly impact highway safety. Motorists can help too by obeying all traffic laws, buckling up, and not drinking and driving. We also need the public to continue using 1-877-7-PATROL when witnessing dangerous drivers or stranded motorists, or 1-800-GRAB DUI or cellular *DUI to report impaired drivers.

As you gather with family and friends for the summer holidays, make safety a part of your celebration. Being a designated driver ensures that the party continues, and ends, safely.

Remember, Designate a Driver. It’s about Safety!