HOUGHTON – With the holidays here, law enforcement agents across the state offer similar, if not identical, advice on staying safe: Don’t drink and drive.

“If you’re going to be out and celebrating holiday festivities, make sure you have a plan to get home,” Houghton Police Chief John Donnelly said. “Have a designated driver. We don’t want to have people out there drinking and driving, and that starts with planning ahead.”

According to statistics from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, about 40 percent of fatalities on Michigan roadways in 2022 involved alcohol and/or drugs. From 2018 to 2022, during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, 66 people were killed in traffic crashes in Michigan, including 17 people who died in alcohol-involved crashes. In 2022, 175 alcohol-impaired drivers involved in crashes were killed, and 75 of those drivers (42.9 percent) were not wearing seat belts. There were 121 drug-impaired drivers in crashes who were killed, and 51 (42.1 percent) were not wearing seat belts.

From 2018 through 2022, the 10-11 p.m. time period had the highest number of alcohol-involved crashes, while the 6-7 p.m. time period had the highest number of drug-involved crashes.

Donnelly said safety and planning also includes snowmobiles.

“The snowmobile business should be booming,” he said.

During the holidays, said Donnelly, people have time off and come to the Copper Country, often staying in local hotels and motels.

“They stay in the downtown area and we always promote ride, then if you want to socialize and have a couple cocktails, walk back to your room.”

The object is not to mix the two, said Donnelly. Looking at the fatality statistics, regarding snowmobiles, he said, speed and intoxication are major contributing factors.

Earlier this month, the Michigan State Police launched the Drive Sober or Get Pulled over campaign.

A MSP release said the holiday season is one of the most dangerous times of year for impaired-driving crashes.

“The aim of the enforcement campaign is to drastically reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired driving,” the release states. “We want all Michiganders to have a great time over the holidays, but to keep everyone safe, we are also urging people to be responsible, make smart choices and plan for a sober ride home.”

Police officers will also be looking for cannabis impairment based on:

1. Driving behavior

2. Officer’s observations of the driver

3. How a driver performs on field sobriety tests.

Based on these three stages of an investigation, a police officer may request a chemical test. If a driver refuses to submit to a chemical test, their license will be suspended pursuant to Michigan’s implied consent law. Under this law, all drivers are considered to have given consent to the test when they apply for and renew their driver’s license.