November 26th, 2025 Local News
Park Hills, Mo. (KFMO) - As the holiday season gets underway, safety is key on the roadways. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Dallas Thompson says there are three important things drivers can do to stay safe during the busy travel period.
Local law enforcement agencies across the region are joining a nationwide effort to reduce impaired driving as holiday travel increases. From November 26, 2025, through January 1, 2026, authorities will take part in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s winter high-visibility enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
The goal is to stop impaired driving and protect the public during one of the busiest and most dangerous travel seasons of the year. The winter holidays have historically seen a spike in alcohol-related crashes. Between December 2019 and December 2023, 4,931 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver.
In December 2023 alone, more than 1,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, with the majority involving drivers far above the legal limit. While final 2024 figures aren’t yet available, officials say impaired driving continues to account for roughly one-third of all traffic fatalities nationwide. Local law enforcement will increase patrols throughout the holiday season, focusing on removing impaired drivers from the road.
Officers are urging drivers to plan ahead, secure a sober ride if they intend to drink, and intervene when friends or family members attempt to drive while impaired. They note that impaired judgment after drinking makes decision-making more dangerous, which is why arranging transportation ahead of time is critical. Authorities also encourage the public to remain vigilant.
If anyone spots a drunk driver, they are urged to contact local law enforcement immediately to help prevent a potential tragedy.
