The Beaverton Police Department will be participating in a national traffic safety campaign, with a focus on impaired drivers during the week of Thanksgiving. This High Visibility Enforcement detail (HVE) will begin on November 22nd and end on November 27th.

During this time the Beaverton Police Department will have officers out on focused patrols for impaired drivers. The goal of this campaign is to save lives and educate the motoring public.
Drunk driving, impaired driving or buzzed driving all have the potential to claim lives and often will result in jail time. The men and women of the Beaverton Police Department ask you to please think about this before you operate a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol.

It is also important that you read the labels on any prescription medication you take, before consuming any alcoholic beverage. Drinking alcohol while on some prescription medications can increase your inability to safely operate a motor vehicle and this could lead to serious injury or death.

Here are several things you can do to avoid becoming a statistic:

* Do not drink and drive.
* Do not ride with anyone who has been drinking.
* Do not use illegal drugs.
* Do not drive a motor vehicle until you know how a prescription medication affects you.
* Do not mix prescription medications and alcohol.
* Always use a seat belt.
* Have a designated driver.
* Report drunk drivers by calling 911.

Impaired driving is not an accident; it is an intentional and willing act that you have control over.
Drunk driving is often a symptom of a larger problem: alcohol misuse and abuse.
Alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion annually.

##BPD##