— Information from the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program
As Fourth of July celebrations get underway across North Carolina, drivers are encouraged to make safe choices behind the wheel.
The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program launched its annual “Operation Firecracker Booze It and Lose It” enforcement campaign Monday to promote safe driving throughout the busy travel period. The campaign includes bolstered public outreach and law enforcement to encourage sober driving and remove impaired drivers from the roads. Law enforcement will conduct checkpoints and an increased number of patrols through July 5.
“This time of year is one of the deadliest in terms of impaired driving crashes,” said GHSP Director Mark Ezzell. “In 2025 alone, 464 people lost their lives in impaired driving crashes on North Carolina roads. This staggering number reminds us why this work is so critically important.”
According to traffic data from the N.C. Department of Transportation, there were 917 DWI arrests made during last year’s “Operation Firecracker” campaign period, and 77 of those arrests were for drivers under the age of 21. The “Booze It and Lose It” campaign highlights that there are severe consequences for reckless behavior.
“This campaign highlights that if you drink and drive in North Carolina, you lose,” said Secretary of N.C. Department of Public Safety Jeffrey Smythe at Monday’s press conference. “You risk losing your license, your freedom, your reputation, and possibly your life or someone else’s.”
This Fourth of July, plan to arrive safely. Designate a sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare service. Make safe choices for a safer holiday for everyone.
