When Michigan motorists arrive safely at their holiday gatherings this season, they can give thanks in part to the additional law enforcement officers who will be on patrol during this winter season. Law enforcement across the state will be conducting daytime safety belt enforcement zones and nighttime impaired driving enforcement patrols this Holiday season.

Christmas and New Year’s traffic patterns tend to be better overall because the holiday is spread during a longer period of time, so no one day has the same high concentration as just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Traveling on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are safer days to be on the road than other days because traffic is relatively light.

For the week between Christmas and New Year’s, many people are out of work and school, so every night is similar to a typical Friday or Saturday night. If you factor in the holiday parties, the DUI rate increases dramatically.

Combinations of alcohol and speed crashes are the cause of most of the fatal crashes during the holidays. Conforming to the following list of behaviors would eliminate the probability of being involved in a fatal crash: