When traveling to Modoc County you may see a new billboards — with a clear warning: “Designate a driver, or one will be designated for you.”
The billboard campaign is a collaboration between the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the Tulelake Police Department, and was paid for through a Cannabis Tax Fund Grant.
Officials say the message is meant to reduce impaired driving crashes and encourage residents to make safe choices during the holidays and into the new year. Increased celebration-related travel often coincides with a rise in impaired driving incidents nationwide.
National safety organizations estimate that alcohol-impaired driving continues to make up about 30% of all traffic fatalities.
Local law enforcement agencies encourage drivers to take precautions, including:
- Designating a sober driver before drinking
- Using a rideshare or taxi service
- Staying overnight rather than driving impaired
- Looking out for impaired drivers and reporting unsafe driving
The Sheriff’s Office said the billboard is meant as a visible reminder that impaired driving has real consequences — and is entirely preventable.
