The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates 179 lives may be lost during the New Year’s holiday driving period.

In previous years, impaired driving representing 38 percent and 37 percent of these fatalities, respectively, according to the U.S. non-profit safety advocate.

During the observance of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month this month, NSC calls on all road users to take safety personally this holiday season.

“Impairment, whether from alcohol, drugs and/or another factor such as fatigue or stress, causes a decline in visual function, mental judgment and motor skills,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of roadway practice at the NSC. “To save lives, we must all do our part by buckling up, driving sober (or arranging alternate transportation), slowing down, avoiding distractions and looking out for one another.”

In addition to the personal responsibility of all road users, more can and will be done in both the short and long-term to address the issue of impaired driving on U.S. roads.

Law enforcement officers nationwide will be focusing on removing impaired drivers from the roads through sobriety checkpoints and community outreach now through Jan. 1.

In an effort to continue educating drivers throughout the holiday season, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is promoting public service messages through campaigns such as Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and If You Feel Different, You Drive Different; Drive High, Get a DUI.

Shared support for making impaired-driving prevention technology standard in new passenger vehicles is the goal; the NHTSA is accepting comments on this matter through February.

The holistic effort reflects the commitment made among private and public sector organizations to embrace a Safe System Approach, as adopted by Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation National Roadway Safety Strategy.

The New Year’s holiday period begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.