Police agencies across state get ready for holiday enforcement

In the past two weeks, 35 people have died in 33 crashes across the state, according to Virginia State Police.

Eight of those crashes were related to drinking and driving, according to a state police news release.

As they do every year, state police and law enforcement agencies across the state will conduct extra patrols and checkpoints to try to keep motorists safe during the remainder of the holiday season. They are asking drivers to avoid drinking and driving, to buckle safety belts, avoid distractions, obey the speed limits and to share the road.

Last year, eight people were killed during the Dec. 21 to 26 holiday weekend, according to state police. During the New Year’s holiday, 13 people died on the state’s highways.

Already this year, nearly 1,000 people have died in traffic crashes, police wrote in the release.

During the

Many of the traffic enforcement campaigns will be conducted in recognition of Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, according to the release.

This Friday through Sunday has been designated National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Operation C.A.R.E., according to the release.

The state police will concentrate on specific roads this weekend and plan to conduct more than 55 sobriety checkpoints through the end of the year, the release says.