Increased DUI patrols planned

L Indiana law enforcement agencies are working to keep motorists safe this holiday season as police step up impaired driving patrols on Hoosier roadways this week.

Members of Indiana's 35 DUI Task Forces will conduct high visibility enforcement activities such as saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints across the state through New Year's Day.

A total of 135 people died as a result of an impaired driver on Indiana roadways in 2010. In fact, there were more than 50 alcohol-related collisions in the Hoosier state during the Christmas and New Year's holiday periods alone.

"Impaired driving is a serious and deadly crime," said Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) Traffic Safety Division Director, Ryan Klitzsch. "It's also 100 percent preventable," he continued.

Any amount of alcohol can affect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, too many drivers make the mistake of getting behind the wheel even though they are clearly impaired. Nearly 25 percent of Indiana's fatal collisions in 2010 were alcohol-related. Of those incidents, 130 involved a driver that was legally alcohol-impaired.

"No matter if you've had way too much, or one too many, call a friend, take a cab, or sleep it off - don't get behind the wheel impaired," Klitzsch added. "By simply designating a sober driver, you could be saving a life - perhaps even your own."