National Impaired Driving Prevention Month is observed every December to raise awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, other drugs and impairing medications. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and state highway safety offices mark the month with education and enforcement, including the holiday season "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign.
For employers, December brings holiday parties, travel and long hours, all of which raise the risk of impaired driving. The month is a good time to restate your policy, remind drivers of the rules and make sure everyone has a safe way home.
When Is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month in 2027?
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month runs for the full month of December, from Wednesday, December 1 through Friday, December 31, 2027. The month has been recognized by presidential proclamation in many past years.
NHTSA's winter holiday "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign falls inside the month and carries into the new year. For the 2026 season, NHTSA's paid media period runs from December 16, 2026, to January 1, 2027. Check NHTSA's Traffic Safety Marketing winter holidays page for the 2027 campaign dates and materials once they are released.
Why It Matters at Work
Impaired driving remains one of the deadliest behaviors on the road. According to NHTSA, 11,904 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2024, which works out to one person killed every 44 minutes. NHTSA also reports that about 30 percent of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.
December is especially dangerous. NHTSA reports that between 2020 and 2024, nearly 5,000 people died in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver during December, and there were 934 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in December 2024 alone.
Impairment is not only about alcohol. Cannabis, illegal drugs and some prescription and over-the-counter medications can slow reaction time and affect judgment. For a company with vehicles on the road, one impaired driver can cause a fatal crash, serious liability and lasting damage to your reputation. Impairment also affects other safety-sensitive work, such as operating forklifts and heavy equipment.
How to Take Part
Practical ideas for a workplace or fleet:
- Restate your policy. Remind all employees of your drug and alcohol policy, including rules for company vehicles, personal vehicles used for work and safety-sensitive jobs.
- Plan safe holiday events. Offer non-alcoholic drinks and food, end alcohol service well before the event ends, and arrange rideshare credits or designated drivers.
- Use NHTSA's campaign materials. Share the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" graphics and messages in breakrooms, emails and driver meetings.
- Train supervisors. Make sure supervisors know how to recognize signs of impairment and what to do, including how reasonable suspicion testing works for DOT-covered drivers.
- Talk about medications. Encourage employees to read warning labels and ask a pharmacist whether a medication could affect driving.
- Promote your employee assistance program. Remind workers where to get confidential help with substance use.
- Link it to other campaigns. Pair December messages with Drowsy Driving Prevention Week and Distracted Driving Awareness Month to cover the main driver behavior risks.
Toolbox Talk: Drive Sober, Every Trip
Read this 5-minute talk to drivers and crews in early December.
- Impairment starts before you feel drunk. Alcohol affects judgment and reaction time at low levels. The only safe plan is not to drink and drive at all.
- Drugs and medications count. Cannabis, other drugs and many prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair driving. If a label warns about drowsiness or operating machinery, do not drive.
- Plan your ride before the party. Choose a designated driver, use a rideshare or taxi, or plan to stay over. Decide before you have your first drink.
- Know the rules for your job. Commercial drivers face stricter limits than the general public. Using alcohol within 4 hours of driving or reporting for duty at 0.04 or higher is prohibited.
- Look out for each other. If a coworker or friend seems impaired, take the keys and help them find another way home. If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over safely and call 911.
Discussion question: What is your plan for getting home safely from holiday events this month?
Related Requirements
Drivers who need a commercial driver's license and perform safety-sensitive functions are covered by DOT drug and alcohol testing rules under 49 CFR Parts 40 and 382. Under FMCSA's rules, a driver may not report for or remain on duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, use alcohol while on duty or within 4 hours before driving, use alcohol within 8 hours after an accident requiring a test (unless tested sooner), or refuse a required test. A result of 0.02 or higher but below 0.04 requires removal from duty for at least 24 hours. Employers must also run pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty and follow-up testing. FMCSA's implementation guidelines explain the prohibited conduct in detail.
How SMS360 Helps
A drug and alcohol program depends on accurate records and consistent follow-through. The SMS360 DOT Compliance module helps you keep driver qualification files, testing documents and policy acknowledgments organized, schedule and track supervisor reasonable suspicion training and driver education, and report incidents from a mobile device. Dashboards help you see missing documents and overdue training across your fleet, and corrective actions can be assigned and tracked when a problem is found.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month 2027?
The observance covers all of December, so in 2027 it runs from December 1 to December 31. NHTSA's holiday "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" enforcement campaign typically runs during the second half of December into the new year.
What is the legal BAC limit for commercial drivers?
Under FMCSA rules, a commercial driver may not perform safety-sensitive functions with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, half the 0.08 limit that applies to most other drivers. A result of 0.02 or higher requires removal from duty for at least 24 hours.
Does impaired driving include drugs and medications?
Yes. Impaired driving includes driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs and prescription or over-the-counter medications that affect alertness or coordination. If a medication label warns against driving or operating machinery, follow it.
