In September 2019, Sue Beatty’s greatest fear came true when her 19-year-old daughter was hit and killed by an impaired driver.
The 19-year-old from Frisco, Carly Beatty, had been dropped off at Texas A&M by her mother just weeks beforehand for her sophomore year. Sue Beatty didn’t realize then that it would be her last time seeing her daughter alive.
“She had her whole life ahead of her,” Sue Beatty said in a statement. “Carly did not deserve what happened to her. She had hopes and dreams that have now ended … because someone chose to drive impaired.”
Now, Sue Beatty is partnering with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for it’s “Drive Sober. No Regrets” campaign to remind the public that there is never a reason to drive impaired.
According to TxDOT, 1,254 people died on Texas roads due to impaired driving in 2025, about three people killed each day. Substances like alcohol and THC make those dangers even greater when driving, increasing the likelihood of causing a deadly crash by about 25 times.
“There is no safe level of impaired driving,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in a statement. “Avoiding a crash or arrest doesn’t make the choice any less dangerous. The risk is real and the consequences can be permanent. Avoid the ‘what ifs’ and always drive sober.”
A DWI can also result in legal troubles, including fines and fees up to $17,000.
As part of the campaign, TxDOT is driving across Texas in a former beverage delivery truck that’s been repurposed to promote sober driving.