The Texas Department of Transportation is intensifying efforts to remove impaired drivers from Texas highways during the Fourth of July holiday period. The initiative, known as the "Drive Sober, No Regrets" campaign, runs through July 6 and involves coordinated enforcement actions by police agencies across the state.
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. An intoxicated motorist struck Carly while she was walking home alongside two friends. Her mother, Sue Beatty, who resides in Frisco, is a central figure in the current outreach efforts. Frisco is located approximately 7 miles east of Little Elm.
Sue Beatty established the nonprofit organization Carly’s Way in 2019. The group operates to support local animal shelters, reflecting her daughter’s childhood ambition to become a veterinarian, while simultaneously raising public awareness regarding the dangers of driving under the influence.
In a recent interview, Sue Beatty described her daughter as compassionate and kind. She noted that Carly was known for her smile and her love for animals. Beatty emphasized that no celebration justifies the permanent regret caused by impaired driving.
State data highlights the scale of the issue. TxDOT reported that 1,254 fatalities on Texas roads in 2025 were linked to drivers operating under the influence. Within the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan areas, 258 such deaths occurred last year. This figure averages to nearly one death per weekday throughout the year.
