AUSTIN, December 30, 2005 - During the New Year’s weekend, DPS will have all available troopers on Texas roadways. Troopers will be looking for speeders, seat belt violators, reckless drivers and drunk drivers from New Year’s Eve through midnight on January 1.

Last New Year’s, DPS troopers arrested 423 people for driving while intoxicated; they also arrested 50 minors for driving under the influence.

“DPS troopers will be looking for people who are driving while intoxicated,” said Col. Thomas A. Davis Jr., director of the DPS, “so it’s a good idea to designate a driver at the beginning of the evening. That designated driver should not consume any alcohol. Otherwise, you may find yourself on the side of the road, participating in a field sobriety test.”

Last New Year’s, troopers also issued 6,244 speeding tickets. In addition, they wrote 797 tickets for seat belt violations and 329 tickets for child safety seat violations.

If you’re looking for self-improvement ideas for the new year, look no farther than your own mirror. Driving can be one of the most dangerous activities you engage in during the day, so taking a few moments to think about your driving is a good idea.

Here are some good driving habits to employ:

Make sure everyone is buckled up.
Drive sober.
Use your turn signals.
Do not tailgate.
Obey the speed limit
Do not speed up, block lanes, slam or tap on brakes.
Report extreme cases of reckless driving to the appropriate authorities at the time the violation occurs.
Do not retaliate, gesture or make eye contact.

You can also leave a bid, in a sealed envelope please, at the following locations.

Redd's Cafe in Moss Hill

Carol Bond's Health Foods in Liberty @ 334 Main St.

Busy Bee Cafe in Hardin

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