The Texas Department of Transportation has initiated a heightened enforcement campaign targeting impaired drivers ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The initiative, titled "Drive Sober, No Regrets," runs through July 6 and aims to identify and arrest individuals operating vehicles under the influence.
The campaign honors the memory of Carly Beatty, a 19-year-old Texas A&M University student who was killed in 2019 near College Station. According to her mother, Sue Beatty, an intoxicated driver struck Carly while she was walking home with two friends. Sue Beatty, who resides in Frisco, described her daughter as compassionate and kind, noting that she had expressed a desire to become a veterinarian since the age of three.
Sue Beatty established the nonprofit organization Carly’s Way in 2019. The group supports local animal shelters, fulfilling her daughter’s vision, while also raising awareness about the dangers of impaired driving. Sue Beatty emphasized that no celebration is worth the lasting regret associated with drunk driving.
State data highlights the severity of the issue. TxDOT reported that 1,254 people died on Texas roads in 2025 due to drivers choosing to operate vehicles while intoxicated. In the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan areas specifically, 258 fatalities occurred last year at the hands of impaired drivers. This figure averages to nearly one death per weekday across the region.
Police agencies across the state are increasing patrols and enforcement efforts to deter drunk driving during the holiday period. The department urges drivers to plan for sober transportation before consuming alcohol.
