RALEIGH, NC — The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is reinforcing its commitment to reducing traffic fatalities across the state by spotlighting its long-running “Booze It & Lose It” anti-drunk-driving initiative.
Widely recognized as one of the nation’s most effective impaired-driving enforcement and awareness models, the campaign combines aggressive law enforcement operations with targeted public education to deter driving while impaired.
Increased Patrols and Checking Stations
During active enforcement periods, local law enforcement agencies across North Carolina ramp up operations by increasing saturation patrols, deploying additional traffic officers, and establishing driver checking stations. Agencies also partner with local news media to remind motorists of the steep penalties associated with impaired driving.
State officials emphasize that the financial and legal consequences of a Driving While Impaired (DWI) conviction are substantial. Drivers caught operating a vehicle while impaired face:
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Potential jail time
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Immediate suspension or loss of driving privileges
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An average of $10,000 in fines, legal fees, towing costs, and associated expenses
Beyond the financial toll, highway safety advocates stress that the ultimate cost of drunk driving is the preventable loss of human life. Despite the proven success of the “Booze It & Lose It” initiative since its launch in 1994, more than 9,000 people have died in alcohol-related crashes on North Carolina roadways.
Statewide Commitment to Highway Safety
The Governor’s Highway Safety Program coordinates statewide traffic safety grants and public awareness initiatives aimed at eliminating crash-related injuries and fatalities.
In addition to “Booze It & Lose It,” GHSP administers high-visibility enforcement and educational campaigns including:
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Click It or Ticket (Seat belt compliance)
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Speed a Little. Lose a Lot. (Speed reduction)
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Watch For Me NC (Pedestrian and bicycle safety)
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BikeSafe NC (Motorcycle safety education)
GHSP also provides critical grant funding for North Carolina’s Vision Zero initiative, a collaborative statewide effort leveraging community engagement and data-driven safety interventions to reach a goal of zero traffic deaths on North Carolina roads.
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