(AUSTIN, TX) – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is encouraging drivers to pack safety on their holiday road trips by staying sober and following traffic laws throughout the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

In an effort to increase safety on Texas roadways, DPS Troopers will conduct traffic patrols throughout the holiday weekends — Dec. 23-26 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1 — looking for drunk drivers, speeders, seat belt violators and other dangerous drivers. Many local law enforcement agencies will also increase enforcement efforts over the holidays.

During the Christmas/New Year holiday enforcement effort last year, DPS Troopers issued more than 86,000 citations and warnings for a variety of violations, including speeding, no insurance and seat belt/child safety seat usage. DPS enforcement efforts also resulted in 400 DWI arrests, 359 fugitive arrests and 277 felony arrests.