CONCORD, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) — As New Hampshire residents prepare to celebrate the New Year, state officials are urging drivers to plan ahead to avoid impaired driving, which remains a leading cause of fatal crashes on the state’s roadways.

The New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety says impairment was reported as a factor in nearly 70 percent of fatal crashes in 2023. To address the risk during the holiday, law enforcement agencies across the state will increase patrols on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which runs through Jan. 1.

According to data from the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles, 191 people were arrested for driving while intoxicated between 2019 and 2024 during the New Year’s holiday period of Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. More than 700 non-fatal crashes were also reported during that time. One person was killed during the New Year’s holiday period in 2022. State officials report that 134 people have been killed in 126 crashes so far in 2025.

The Office of Highway Safety is encouraging anyone who plans to drink or use drugs to arrange a sober ride home, such as a designated driver, rideshare, taxi, or staying overnight.

Officials warn that impaired driving is illegal in New Hampshire and carries serious consequences, including fines and fees that can exceed $10,000, license suspension, and possible jail time. Anyone who sees a suspected impaired driver on New Hampshire roadways is urged to report it by calling 911.

The enforcement effort is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety.