Over the Limit. Under Arrest

Drunk driving is always a dumb idea, but at no time more than now through Sept. 4.

Supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new ad blitz, "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest," the Nebraska State Patrol, with the support of many sheriff's offices and police departments around the state, will join in the nationwide Drunk Driving Enforcement Crackdown.

Federal highway safety grants for the "You Drink and Drive, You Lose" effort will add more than 9,600 hours of enforcement, not including local agencies that are using their own overtime funding to enhance regular enforcement.

"During this special enforcement, many agencies will be conducting an unprecedented number of roadside sobriety checkpoint operations, in addition to increased saturation patrols," Highway Safety Administrator Fred Zwonechek said.

"Why is this necessary? In the past five years in Nebraska, a total of 489 people have lost their lives and nearly 8,000 have been injured in alcohol-related crashes," he said in a news release.

You know what to do.

* If you know you're going to consume alcohol, designate a sober driver and give him or her the keys.

* If you're impaired, call a taxi, sober friend or family member to get you home safely.

* Promptly report suspected drunk drivers on the roadway by calling *55 or 911.

* Wearing your safety belt is your best defense against an impaired driver.

* If you know someone who is about to drive impaired or ride with someone who is, stop them and get them safe transportation.

If you ignore the rules and find yourself behind the wheel when you shouldn't be, especially between now and Labor Day, expect to have an encounter with a law enforcement officer. You should be grateful if that's the worst thing happens to you.

And, don't say they didn't warn you.