The New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will conduct a crackdown on impaired and distracted driving during the holiday travel season.

The increased patrols and checkpoints will run from today through Sunday, Jan. 1. This is part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” traffic enforcement campaign to cut down on alcohol and drug-related crashes.

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20%, officials said. Sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.

“It’s so important that drivers act responsibly, and that includes refraining from impaired driving,” said Madison County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matthew White.

“The holidays are a special time of year for many, and we want our community members to enjoy this season. We need commitment from drivers that they’ll keep the roads free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday. This enforcement period allows us to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives. Help us put an end to this senseless behavior.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020.

During last year’s crackdown, state police arrested 522 people for drunken driving and issued 35,016 tickets, including 12,285 tickets for speeding, 840 for distracted driving, and 289 for the “Move Over Law.” State police also investigated 14 fatal crashes during the 2021 holiday crackdown.