Starting with a 20-day nationwide enforcement crackdown, Oregon State Police (OSP) will be joining other Oregon law enforcement agencies through the end of December and into the New Year for increased enforcement to find and remove impaired drivers from area highways. The enhanced enforcement supports Governor Kulongoski's proclamation of December as "Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness" month.

The extended DUII enforcement efforts underscores the severity of the problem.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 992 people were killed in December 2007 crashes that involved a drunk driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher n above the legal limit in every state as well as the District of Columbia.

"No amount of good cheer will be able to save you from the consequences of driving under the influence," said Captain Gerry Gregg, director of the OSP Patrol Services Division. "There will be no exceptions or excuses whether you are driving with a 'buzz' or 'falling down drunk.' You will be arrested."

A NHTSA national study released last year showed the daily death toll from impaired driving crashes during the Christmas and New Year's holiday periods is significantly more than for the rest of the year. The report showed from 2001 through 2005, an average of 36 fatalities occurred per day on America's roadways as a result of crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. That number increased to 45 per day during the Christmas period and to 54 per day over the New Year's holiday.

OSP and ODOT urge holiday travelers to remember these tips:

• Don't drink and drive, and don't ride with anyone who has had too much to drink.

• Never use illegal drugs.

• Volunteer to be a designated driver.

• If someone who's been drinking insists on driving, take his/her keys.

• If hosting a gathering, provide non-alcoholic beverages.

• Use public transit or local drive-home services provided by taxis and other companies.

• Always use safety restraints.

• Avoid travel after midnight, especially on weekends or holidays.

• Drive defensively at all times.

• Report any suspected impaired driving by calling 1-800-24DRUNK (800-243-7865) or 9-1-1.

For the safety of emergency responders working everyday, remember Oregon has a "Move Over Law." It states if you are driving up behind any type of police car or emergency vehicle pulled over on the roadside with emergency lights flashing, you must:

• Move over into another lane.

• If you can't safely change lanes, slow down.

• In all cases, the driver must try to provide as much room as possible for the emergency vehicle.

For more information about the national effort against impaired driving, visit www.StopImpaired Driving.org.