Rudolph’s nose may light the sky up red, but the color on the ground will most certainly be blue as law enforcement from a variety of agencies work to keep our streets and highways safe from impaired drivers.

 

Meridian Police Department, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol and others will be keeping a close eye out for those who have made the poor decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence.

 

During its 2023 Christmas enforcement period, MHP reported a total of 79 DUI arrests were made between 6 a.m. on Dec. 23 and midnight on Dec. 25. Troopers also issued 2,544 citations, 270 seatbelt and child restraint violations, responded to 144 crashes including one fatality, and provided assistance to 54 motorists.

 

Locally, LCSD has already announced times and locations of sobriety checkpoints that will continue through Jan. 1 as part of its efforts to take impaired drivers off the road.

 

In its holiday forecast, auto club AAA predicts more than 119 million Americans are set to travel during the Christmas and New Year holiday weeks, which will be a new record. Of those 107 million, or 89.7% are expected to travel via car.

 

Impaired driving is not acceptable under any circumstances, but it is especially dangerous as we approach what is typically one of the busiest times of year to be on the road. Approximately 150 Mississippians die each year due to impaired driving, according to the Mississippi Department of Health, and 150 is 150 too many.

 

For those who plan on drinking or using other substances, plan ahead and please use a designated driver or use a rideshare service, taxi or other way to get home. If there is any question if someone is OK to drive, the answer should be a resounding “No.”

 

Drive safe. Drive sober. And have a very Merry Christmas.