With New Years Eve approaching, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has estimated 408 driving-related fatalities across the country for the upcoming weekend. The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office is hoping to prove them wrong.

Additional patrol will be out in Louisa County this weekend, with a focus on impaired driving, speeding, and other traffic violations. In a recent NHTSA study, it was found that 56% of seriously or fatally injured road users tested positive for alcohol or other drugs with impairing effects.

As southeast Iowa rings in the new year, the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens to designate a sober driver, use public transportation or a ride-sharing app, and take standard precautionary measures when on the roads this weekend.