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 DPS wants to remind all Texans it is everyone’s responsibility to help protect those working on the side of the road this holiday season by following the law: Move over or slow down for police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated. Also, show the same courtesy to fellow drivers stopped along the road.