NHTSA Launches “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”

NHTSA Launches “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign in Washington, D.C.

New campaign taps into college football culture to
engage young adults and encourage fans to make the commitment to never drive impaired

WASHINGTON, D.C., — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) kicked off its latest “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign Tuesday at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C., bringing together government officials, college football personalities and agency partners to deliver a simple but potentially lifesaving message: If you drink, don’t drive.

The initiative is designed to reach young adults — particularly those ages 21 to 24 — by bringing the sober-driving message directly into the culture and environments where they gather. According to NHTSA data cited at the event, alcohol-impaired driving was involved in 28% of fatal crashes involving drivers ages 21 to 24 in 2024.

This fall, the campaign will take that message on the road, activating at major college campuses around college football game days and giving fans an interactive way to experience the importance of making a plan to get home safely.

Legendary college football coach and The Triple Option podcast host Urban Meyer joined the Washington kickoff, along with fellow Triple Option host Rob Stone, to help connect the campaign’s message with college football fans.

Meyer drew a parallel between preparing for a football game and preparing for a safe night out, emphasizing that making smart decisions begins before the moment arrives. Just as athletes prepare for situations they will encounter on the field, fans should have a plan in place before drinking — including knowing how they will get home safely.

Taking the Message Directly to College Football Fans

At the center of the campaign is an experiential activation that combines education, participation and technology to demonstrate the real-world consequences of impaired driving.

Fans will be encouraged to take a digital pledge to only drive sober, creating a visible commitment to responsible decision-making. The activation also features an impaired-driving simulator, allowing participants to experience firsthand how impairment can affect vision, reaction time and the ability to safely operate a vehicle.

The experience debuted at Tuesday’s Washington event and will travel to major college campuses this fall, using the energy and reach of college football to engage young adults in a setting that is relevant to them.

“We are so happy to partner with Stratacomm and NHTSA on this incredibly important initiative,” said Mike Albo, President of Momentara. “College football gives us an opportunity to connect with young adults in an environment they are passionate about and turn an important safety message into an experience they will remember. If we can get people thinking about how they’re getting home before they ever have that first drink, we can make a real difference.”

Empirical Productions helped bring the campaign experience to life, including the interactive pledge wall and impaired-driving simulator.

“The simulator makes the dangers of impaired driving real in a way that simply telling someone not to drink and drive can’t,” said Michael Palatnek, CEO of Empirical Productions. “When people experience how difficult it is to control the simulator and see how dramatically impairment can affect their vision and reactions, we hope it stays with them. The goal is for that experience to come back to mind the next time they have a choice to make — and for driving sober to be the only choice.”

A National Effort to Prevent Impaired Driving

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is part of NHTSA’s ongoing effort to reduce alcohol-impaired driving fatalities through a combination of public education, community engagement and high-visibility law enforcement.

NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison emphasized at the kickoff that reaching young adults requires meeting them where they are. By integrating the campaign into college football environments, the initiative aims to turn the sober-driving message into a conversation among fans, friends and communities.

The fall college tour will build on the Washington launch, bringing the pledge experience, impaired-driving simulator and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” message to fans at major college football destinations across the country.

The message behind every activation remains straightforward: Plan ahead. Make the pledge. Drive sober.

About NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and reducing vehicle-related crashes on America’s roadways. NHTSA works to improve roadway safety through education, research, vehicle safety standards and partnerships with state and local governments, law enforcement organizations and communities nationwide.