<![CDATA[The City of Clarksville, AR - PD Public Announcements]]>

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03-07-25
CONTACT: Clarksville Police Department 479-754-8100
Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving:Make a Plan Before St. Patrick’s DayFestivities Begin

Clarksville, Ar. — St. Patrick’s Day 2025 celebrations will take place across the country on and around Monday, March 17. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urges drivers to remember that drinking and driving is deadly and never an option. Join NHTSA and Clarksville Police Department in sharing this message: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
Every year, alcohol-impaired driving casts a shadow over the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by taking the lives of community and family members across America. According to NHTSA, 38% (290) of the traffic fatalities that occurred during the St. Patrick’s Day holidays (6 p.m. March 16–5:59 a.m. March 18) between 2018-2022 involved drunk drivers. In 2022 alone, there were 74 drunk-driving fatalities during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, of which 49 involved drivers with a blood alcohol level of almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). In 2022 drivers ages 21-34 (34%) were the age group most involved in alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities during this holiday, followed by drivers under 21 (30%). The rates of passenger car drivers and motorcyclists involved in these fatal drunk-driving crashes were 34% and 41%, respectively.
“Embracing St. Patrick’s Day and its traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another. Feeling buzzed and getting behind the wheel puts lives at risk,” reminds Clarksville Police Department. As law enforcement officers, we witness firsthand the devastation and loss caused by alcohol-impaired driving, along with the lasting pain it inflicts on families, friends, and entire communities. We’re partnering with NHTSA to share the reminder that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Drinking and driving is not an option, but making sure someone sober will be behind the wheel is,” Chief Jeff Ross said.
Drivers should be safe during St. Patrick’s Day by planning ahead if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Alcohol impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact Clarksville Police Department.
Drive 100% sober, because Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/3/2025
CONTACT: Chief Jeff Ross, (479)754 - 8100, jross@cpdintra.net FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/3/2025
CONTACT: Chief Jeff Ross, (479)754 - 8100, jross@cpdintra.net
NHTSA and Law Enforcement Remind Drivers:
Put the Phone Away or Pay
Clarksville, Arkansas — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching a national high-visibility enforcement effort, April 10-14, 2025, to deter distracted driving. Law enforcement officers nationwide will work together to enforce texting and distracted-driving laws and remind drivers: Put the Phone Away or Pay. This effort comes during April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
According to NHTSA, in 2022 there were 3,308 people killed and an estimated additional 289,310 people injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. However, due to data collection limitations, we know that these are underestimations.
“Distracted driving is a leading cause of vehicle crashes on our nation’s roads, and most of this distraction can be attributed to cell phone use,” said Clarksville Police Chief Ross. “People know using their phone while driving is dangerous and often illegal, but they do it anyway and put themselves and others at risk. Drivers will see increased law enforcement efforts, as officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is caught texting and driving. If you text and drive, you will pay,”
Violating Arkansas’s distracted-driving laws can be costly. Careless and Prohibited Driving 27-51-104/$100.00.
Drive Safe Every Trip
NHTSA urges drivers to put their phones away when behind the wheel. If you are the driver, follow these steps for a safe drive:
• If you are expecting a text message or need to send one that can’t wait, pull over and park your car in a safe location before using your device.
• Ask your passenger to be your “designated texter.” Allow them to access your phone to respond to calls or messages.
• Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
• Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, silence notifications, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.
Cell phone use while driving is dangerous and illegal. Break the cycle. Remember: Put the Phone Away or Pay. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving.

NHTSA and Law Enforcement Remind Drivers:
Put the Phone Away or Pay
Clarksville, Arkansas — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching a national high-visibility enforcement effort, April 10-14, 2025, to deter distracted driving. Law enforcement officers nationwide will work together to enforce texting and distracted-driving laws and remind drivers: Put the Phone Away or Pay. This effort comes during April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
According to NHTSA, in 2022 there were 3,308 people killed and an estimated additional 289,310 people injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. However, due to data collection limitations, we know that these are underestimations.
“Distracted driving is a leading cause of vehicle crashes on our nation’s roads, and most of this distraction can be attributed to cell phone use,” said Clarksville Police Chief Ross. “People know using their phone while driving is dangerous and often illegal, but they do it anyway and put themselves and others at risk. Drivers will see increased law enforcement efforts, as officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is caught texting and driving. If you text and drive, you will pay,”
Violating Arkansas’s distracted-driving laws can be costly. Careless and Prohibited Driving 27-51-104/$100.00.
Drive Safe Every Trip
NHTSA urges drivers to put their phones away when behind the wheel. If you are the driver, follow these steps for a safe drive:
If you are expecting a text message or need to send one that can’t wait, pull over and park your car in a safe location before using your device. Ask your passenger to be your “designated texter.” Allow them to access your phone to respond to calls or messages. Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving. Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, silence notifications, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination. Cell phone use while driving is dangerous and illegal. Break the cycle. Remember: Put the Phone Away or Pay. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2025
CONTACT: Jeff Ross,(479)754-8100, jross@cpdintra.net

Click It or Ticket Seat Belt Safety Campaign Reminds Drivers:
Buckle Up May 19 - June 1, and Every Day

Clarksville, Arkansas — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging drivers to buckle up ahead of a national Click It or Ticket seat belt safety campaign. The national high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs May 19 to June 1, 2025.
“Seat belt use should be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Clarksville/Arkansas Police Chief Ross. “It’s not just a safe thing to do — it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing a driver can do to limit injury or save a life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. So often, it could have been prevented.”
The national seat belt daytime use rate in 2023 was 91.9%, which is good — but it can be better. The other 8.1% still need to be reminded that seat belts save lives. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.
One of the focuses of the Click It or Ticket seat belt high-visibility campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night. Also, seat belt use differs among females and males. Of the males killed in crashes in 2023, more than half (53%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 41% were not buckled up.
“If the enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider our mission to be a success,” said Clarksville/Arkansas Police Chief Ross. “We are asking friends and family to remind each other to buckle up when they drive, and to consider changing their habits if they don’t. Help us spread this lifesaving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone — front seat and back, child and adult — needs to remember to buckle up.”
For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt high-visibility enforcement campaign, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt.
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