State officials will begin the final heightened DUI enforcement period of the year Tuesday to discourage impaired drinking during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol and 89 local law enforcement agencies will increase patrols and DUI checkpoints throughout the state from Tuesday through Saturday.

Last year’s New Year’s Eve enforcement period resulted in the arrest of 360 impaired drivers. During the holiday enforcement period earlier this month, 329 impaired drivers were arrested.

Woman suspected of DUI arrested after hitting a pedestrian and driving away

“If you choose to drive impaired you are not only putting your own life and lives of your passenger at risk, but you are also jeopardizing the safety of every other person on the road,” said CSP Chief Matthew Packard.

“Stop yourself and think, is this really worth a life?”

So far this year, there have been 178 traffic fatalities involving impaired drivers, according to CDOT data. That makes up 32% of all traffic fatalities in 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials are also urging Coloradans to avoid New Year’s Eve gatherings to slow the spread of the virus. In Red Level counties like Denver, personal gatherings of any size are currently prohibited.

Despite declining traffic rates during the pandemic, traffic fatalities have not decreased. This, in part, can be attributed to the national increase in alcohol consumption during the pandemic.

Excessive drinking during the pandemic has especially affected western states, including Colorado.

327 arrested during Colorado’s Thanksgiving DUI enforcement period

To help discourage driving under the influence, CDOT has also partnered with Lyft to provide free rides over the holidays. Lyft has been giving away $10 ride codes to Coloradans every Thursday of December.

The final giveaway this Thursday is available to Colorado Springs residents on a first-come, first-served basis by signing the Gift of Lyft Pledge at GiftofLyft.com.