Police Commissioner Elton Lewis is joining other national, state and local highway safety and law enforcement officials in reminding everyone this holiday season to always designate a sober driver before each holiday party or event involving alcohol.

“The holiday season is a time for family, friends and celebrations. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when we see a jump in the number of alcohol related accidents,” says Commissioner Lewis. “That’s why we are reminding everyone this holiday season that if you catch a buzz, catch a ride.”

The period between Thanskgiving and New Years Day tends to be the deadliest time on America’s roads because of alcohol related highway fatalities. In 2005, the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety did not record any alcohol related fatalities during that period.

Commissioner Lewis offers these simple reminders for a safer holiday season:

• Designate a Driver - Before the partying begins, choose someone in your group who will be responsible for providing safe and sober transportation.
• Wear Your Seat Belt – It’s your best defense against impaired drivers on the road.
• Call 911 if you notice impaired drivers on the road.
• Catch A Ride - If you’ve had too much to drink, be responsible and get a ride home or stay where you are and sleep it off.
• Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.
• If you’re the party host, make sure to provide alcohol-free selections for your guests.

“If you drive drunk this holiday season, you will be arrested,” Lewis says. “It is against the law, and simply not worth the risk.”

Throughout the territory, police will be out in full force conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and looking for and cracking down on impaired drivers.