If you’re driving in Warner Robins this weekend, consider this your final warning—slow down, buckle up, put the phone away, and don’t drive under the influence.
Just the Facts:
- A statewide traffic enforcement effort begins Thursday in Warner Robins.
- Officers will target speeding, distracted driving, seat belt violations, and impaired driving.
- DUI checkpoints will be held Friday and Saturday nights.
- Georgia’s Move Over Law will be strictly enforced.
- No warnings will be given to impaired drivers— only arrests.
The Details: Starting Thursday, the Thunder Task Force—a high-visibility enforcement unit led by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety —will take to the streets for a three-day crackdown on dangerous driving. Warner Robins Police, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, and other traffic enforcement agencies will be out in force.
Their Focus: Drunk and drugged drivers, speeders, distracted drivers, and anyone ignoring Georgia’s seat belt laws.
The operation begins Thursday morning with officers monitoring traffic violations throughout Warner Robins. The intensity ramps up on Friday and Saturday nights when DUI checkpoints will be set up across the city.
By the Numbers:
- 26 traffic deaths were reported in Warner Robins between 2018 and 2022.
- 28% of those fatal crashes involved impaired drivers over the legal limit.
- 60% of DUI-related deaths involved drivers with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.
- In 2023, impaired drivers were linked to 25% of fatal crashes in Warner Robins.
In Context: This surge in enforcement comes as Georgia continues to battle rising traffic fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DUI-related deaths remain a serious concern across the state.
GOHS Director Allen Poole said the mission is simple: Stop impaired drivers before they cause harm.
“There should be no one killed in a drunk or drugged driving crash in our state and nation because all of these deaths are caused by someone making the wrong decision to drive when they know they should not be behind the wheel.”
Drivers should also remember Georgia’s Move Over Law, which requires them to switch lanes or slow down when passing a stopped emergency vehicle with lights on.
How You Can Help:
- Plan ahead: If you’re drinking, designate a sober driver or use a rideshare service.
- Stay alert: Watch for police conducting stops and DUI checkpoints.
- Move over: Give law enforcement space on the roads.
Authorities say enforcement won’t stop after this weekend—local agencies will continue cracking down on reckless and impaired driving in the months ahead.
Remember The Golden Rule: When you get on the road your actions impact the safety of other drivers and pedestrians. We all share the roads. You don’t get to be selfish when you are driving as you are driving on community roads with other people from your community.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
