The Hawai‘i County Police Department is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to remind drivers to drive sober during this holiday season.

During this time, drivers will see officers working together during the holiday season to take drunk drivers off our the road.

Alcohol-impaired driving is deadly and continues to be a factor in fatal traffic crashes here on Hawaiʻi Island. Of the 905 DUI arrests as of December 8, 2024, 211 of them involved crashes where alcohol was an identified factor. Worse still, there have been 28 traffic fatalities so far this year, an 85.7 percent increase over the 15 traffic deaths for all of 2023. Of those 28 deaths, 10 have been alcohol related with 4 cases still awaiting test results.

Drivers should be safe during the holidays by planning ahead if they intend to drink. T

If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.