The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), along with local law enforcement officials, are cracking down on drunk driving this new year. The high-visibility campaign, titled “Tis the Season to Drive Sober” will see more police presence on Iowa roadways through January 1.

Holiday parties and festivities this time of year tend to bring out more drunk drivers. From 2017-2021, the month of December saw more than 4,500 people killed nationwide due to alcohol-impaired crashes. The State of Iowa, meanwhile, is currently experiencing its deadliest year on the roads since 2016.

Deputy Nick Davis with the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office echoed the message of this campaign to KCII, encouraging Iowans to have a plan. “If you’re gonna go out and drink, just be responsible. Make sure you have a person to come pick you up before you are out drinking. Or if you don’t do that, walk to your residence, walk somewhere safe. The last thing we want is a drunk driver that ends up hitting a kid or a family. So just always try to find somebody that can pick you up.”

For further information about this enforcement campaign, the effects of blood alcohol concentration, and more, click here.