As the summer season heats up and families hit the road and waterways for vacations and outdoor activities, the annual "On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive" campaign takes center stage to promote safety and prevent alcohol-related accidents. This initiative, organized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the State Highway Patrol, is supported by local law enforcement agencies, public safety advocates, and organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

The campaign strategically targets two of the busiest summer holiday weekends – Memorial Day and Labor Day – when traffic on both the roadways and waterways is at its peak. Law enforcement officers conduct sobriety checkpoints and ramp up public awareness efforts to deter impaired operation of vehicles and vessels, aiming to ensure that everyone reaches their destinations safely.

Statistics show that alcohol and drugs contribute significantly to boating and vehicle-related fatalities during the summer months. In North Carolina, incidents on the water tend to peak in May, June, and July. Operator inattention remains a top cause of boating incidents. During the previous year, 2022, the state witnessed 148 boating incidents, leading to 20 tragic deaths. Alarmingly, 16 of these fatalities occurred due to the lack of life jacket usage.

Wearing life jackets is a crucial preventive measure that could have saved many lives. Disturbingly, most of the drowning victims had access to life vests but were not wearing them when they entered the water. For those seeking more information on life jacket safety, valuable resources can be found at ncwildlife.org/preserveyourlife.

Safety education is also a focal point of the campaign, particularly for individuals operating vessels. North Carolina state law mandates that anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, who operates a vessel powered by a 10-horsepower or greater motor, must complete an approved boating safety education course or comply with the law through other means. Information about available boating safety classes can be accessed at ncwildlife.org/boating.

Children's safety is also a top priority. According to state regulations, any child under the age of 13 onboard a vessel must always wear a USCG approved life jacket unless the vessel is anchored, docked, or tied to the shore.

The collaborative effort behind the "On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive" campaign involves the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, local police departments, and sheriff's offices.

As the campaign takes center stage on the calendar with upcoming events such as "Operation Dry Water" from July 1 to 3, 2023, and additional awareness weekends like September 1 to 4, 2023, it serves as a critical reminder that safe travels on both the road and waterways require responsible actions and adherence to regulations.