Drive sober for a safe, happy holiday season

Christmas is now just a few days away — and New Year’s isn’t far behind — meaning many Alaskans are settling in for some well-deserved holiday time with friends and family. This is a time of year to have fun, be merry and celebrate in many different ways.

It’s also a time of year that can turn tragic due to poor decisions made by holiday revelers who overdo it — something law enforcement is well aware of. As their way of “celebrating” the season, the Alaska State Troopers will be out and about in force over the next couple weeks as part of their “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. This annual push to ensure our roadways remain as safe as possible has become a holiday tradition that focuses on enforcement of traffic laws around the state.

Between Dec. 18 and Jan. 4, troopers will be conducting additional patrols, utilizing both regular patrol officers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers. They’ll be keeping a special eye out for speeders, dangerous drivers and anyone who might seem like they need extra attention.

This annual enforcement campaign is funded by grants money from the Alaska Highway Safety Office, and it’s money well spent. Nothing is more important during the holidays than ensuring the safety of Alaskans who are trying to reach their families and loved ones.

It’s a highly visible and well-known campaign, and that’s intentional. Troopers don’t want to pull over drunk drivers — in fact, they’d probably be happiest if not a single drunk was caught during the entire enforcement period, as that would mean people are making good choices.

Nothing could be more devastating during this special time of year than for a family to be torn apart by a wreck caused by an impaired driver, and that’s why the state puts so much emphasis on enforcement around the holidays.

We can do our part by making wise choices and — perhaps even more importantly — making sure those around us do, too. Keep an eye on your friends and relatives who are using alcohol, and don’t hesitate to take the keys away from anyone you think might be tipsy. A cab ride is pretty darn cheap compared to the cost of a DUI, and it’s an even smaller price to pay when weighed against the devastating consequences drunk driving can have.

We applaud troopers and local law enforcement in their efforts to crack down on drunk driving during the holidays and hope everyone gets the message that impaired driving won’t be tolerated.

Keeping our streets safe this holiday season is a responsibility we all share. Let’s make sure this Christmas and New Year’s is the safest yet.