December 27, 2007

Designating a sober driver should top motorists' lists of resolutions this New Year's Eve because more than 180 law enforcement agencies are participating in a statewide drunk driving crackdown that runs through Dec. 31.

The Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is providing federal traffic safety funds for a Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown in an effort to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities during the Christmas and New Year's holiday season. Agencies in 39 counties are receiving federal funding for enhanced drunk driving enforcement.

During the 2006 New Year's holiday period, seven people died in Michigan traffic crashes, according to the Michigan Department of State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center. Three, or approximately 43 percent, of the seven fatal crashes involved alcohol. Participating counties include: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton, Delta, Dickinson, Genesee, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Ionia, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Mackinac, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Menominee, Midland, Monroe, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne.

For a list of planned patrol dates, times and locations, please visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

OHSP offers these tips for a safe New Year's celebration:

• Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person the keys.
• If you're impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
• If a friend is about to drive impaired, take his/her keys and make other arrangements to get him/her home safely.
• Promptly report drunk drivers to law enforcement.