STEPHENSON COUNTY, Ill. – With holiday festivities rapidly approaching, the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office announced that it will participate in a national enforcement campaign to crack down on impaired and unbuckled drivers from Dec. 16 through Jan. 2.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 839 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver last December. Throughout the 2018 Christmas and New Year’s holidays alone, there were 285 drunk-driving-related fatalities, more than any other time that year.

Keep these tips in mind to help ensure a safe and joyful holiday season:

●  Before you head to the party, designate a sober driver to get home safely.

●  If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over and call 911.

●  Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take their keys and help them get home safely.

●  Always buckle up!

The Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is administered and funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.