The holidays are a time of festivity, fun and celebration with family, friends and coworkers. However, this is also a time of responsibility and safety when it comes to getting behind the wheel to drive.

Even though Virginia is experiencing a decline this year in traffic fatalities, more than 780 individuals have already been killed in crashes statewide because of an individual’s careless and reckless actions.

“This weekend signals the real start to the winter holiday season for celebrations and traveling,” says Col. W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police. “The only way to save lives on Virginia’s roads is by having every driver and passenger put safety first this holiday season by buckling up, avoiding distractions, sharing the road, obeying speed limits, and driving drug and alcohol free.”

The state police will be among law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth and the nation participating in various safe holiday driving campaigns in recognition of Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month also known as 3-D.

During the remaining weeks of December through January 1, Virginia State Police will be conducting Checkpoint Strikeforce sobriety checkpoints and roving enforcement patrols on designated roadways statewide.

State police are just one of several state and local law enforcement agencies participating in the annual campaign to raise public awareness throughout the Mid-Atlantic region about the deadly dangers of drunk driving.

The weekend before Christmas, December 19 through December 21, has been designated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Operation C.A.R.E. as National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend.

Virginia State Police and local law enforcement will be maximizing their enforcement efforts on “problem” roads during the time period that is traditionally the most popular for holiday festivities and alcohol consumption.

All three of the holiday safety programs are part of Virginia’s multi-agency, statewide Highway Safety Challenge. The Highway Safety Challenge is a partnership of state agencies, non-profit and private-sector groups and individual drivers committed to stopping the reducing the number of highway fatalities.

Last year in Virginia over the Christmas holiday weekend, seven people died in traffic crashes. Fourteen traffic fatalities occurred statewide during the five-day statistical counting period for the New Year’s holiday weekend.