The Washington Police Department urges residents to drive sober or get pulled over as they increase their traffic enforcement presence this holiday season.

From now until January 1st, the police department along with other law enforcement agencies across the state are partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to remove impaired drivers from the roads and help save lives. Police Chief Jim Lester advises those attending holiday parties to plan ahead, “If you plan to go out and attend a party, plan to have a sober driver take you home. Either call a friend or have a designated driver determine before you go out that you got somebody in that role that’s taking that role seriously. They’re not going to be partaking in the alcohol and everyone can get home safely.”

If you don’t already have a sober driver planned Lester urges residents to call a friend, taxi, or rideshare program to take you home when you have partaken in alcohol or drugs. According to the NHTSA, 10,511 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2018, and of Iowa’s total traffic fatalities in 2018, 27% involved alcohol-impaired driving.