It is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but too often a single bad decision can lead to a whole lot of heartache.
That's why the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, The Texas Department of Transportation and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) are teaming up this holiday season for the Home for the Holidays initiative of DWI enforcement.
Starting this Wednesday, local law enforcement agencies will dedicate more officers to the streets with the sole purpose of keeping impaired drivers off of the highways.
The program will remain in place through January 3, 2012.
Nearly 17,000 people are killed and about a half a million others are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes each year, according to MADD. The likelihood of driving while impaired is increased around the holidays, according to Cathy Quaid of MADD, because people are more likely to attend parties where alcohol is served.
Quaid told NBC 5 that people who plan to drink need to take the time to designate a sober driver, or plan to call a taxi.
