Alcohol-impaired crashes claim a life every 42 minutes in the United States, according to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Since early July, a new nationwide public service campaign has been working to change that.

Launched by the Ad Council and NHTSA, the TV PSA “Lost in a Flash” is running throughout the summer, aiming to prevent buzzed driving, especially among Hispanic male drivers aged 21-34. July and August are among the deadliest months for alcohol-impaired driving crashes, and the campaign reminds people that even “buzzed” driving can have lasting consequences for individuals, families, and communities. The message is clear: “Manejar Buzzed es Manejar Drunk” (“Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving”).

The campaign, created pro bono by culture-first agency MEL, speaks directly to its audience in Spanglish, using an emotional and urgent tone to show how a single poor decision can erase everything you live for in an instant. Since its launch, the message has reached audiences nationwide through donated TV, digital, print, and out-of-home space.

This effort continues the Ad Council’s decades-long commitment to tackling alcohol-impaired driving. Since 2000, the Buzzed Driving prevention campaign has generated more than 25 billion media impressions, reinforcing the same core idea: plan ahead, make safe choices, and never drive after drinking.

Find more from Ad Council (USA, July 2025)