By BRANDY BRUBAKER

RICHMOND

The Department of Motor Vehicles urges Virginians to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” this holiday season — and every day. Law enforcement officers across the country — and Virginia — will be out in full force through the New Year’s holiday actively searching for drunk drivers as part of the semi-annual crackdown on impaired driving.

“Crashes caused by drunk drivers are completely preventable. If you drive drunk, you are making a conscious choice to endanger yourself and everyone else on the road,” said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “Virginia law enforcement officers will be out on patrol looking for drunk drivers when they could be at home spending time with their families during the holidays. If alcohol is a part of your holiday celebrations, be smart and stay safe by planning ahead and selecting a sober ride home before you start drinking.”

More than 220 crashes in Virginia between Christmas Eve 2017 and New Year’s Day 2018 involved alcohol. Six people were killed in these crashes and 118 were injured.

Brandy Brubaker is a spokeswoman for the DMV. She can be reached at 804-367-6834 or Brandy.Brubaker@DMV.virginia.gov.