Virginians asked to ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ this holiday season

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginians are encouraged to "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" to ensure everyone gets where they're going safely this holiday season.

From Dec. 10 until Jan. 1, 2026, Virginia law enforcement agencies are participating in the holiday wave of the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, per a Dec. 19 press release from Gov. Glenn Youngkin's office. During this time, officers will conduct individual saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the state.

"This holiday season, Virginians have the opportunity to make a responsible choice that can save lives: a safe ride home for someone who has been drinking,” Youngkin said in the release "Because every drunk driving fatality, injury, crash and arrest is 100-percent preventable, Virginia’s ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ DUI enforcement and public education campaign is focused on keeping our roads safe throughout the holiday season. Virginians who choose to celebrate with alcohol are urged to plan ahead and always get home safely.”

In the 5-year period since this campaign was first implemented, alcohol-related crashes have decreased by 4%.

However, notably, alcohol-related crashes took 318 lives across Virginia in 2024 -- an 8.5% increase over 2023. Per the Virginia DMV, 229 of those deaths were the drunk drivers, themselves.

You can find more information, as well as resources that can help you get a sober and safe ride home, at WhatsTheDamage.org.