(INDIANA) - Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana State Police are urging Hoosiers to drive sober and use extra caution during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Braun says holiday weekends bring added hazards, especially with more people on the road and celebrations taking place across Indiana.
He says anyone who plans to drink should not drive.
Last year, 1,865 crashes happened statewide during the Fourth of July holiday period. Those crashes resulted in 620 injuries and 23 deaths.
Of those crashes, 92 involved alcohol or drugs.
Indiana State Police is taking part in the statewide Combined Accident Reduction Effort, or C.A.R.E., blitz. The effort includes extra patrols focused on crash-causing behaviors such as speeding, violating the hands-free law, unsafe lane movement and following too closely.
A major part of the enforcement effort is identifying and removing impaired and dangerous drivers from Indiana roads.
AAA projects nearly 62 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles over the holiday weekend.
State officials are urging drivers to plan ahead, designate a sober driver before celebrations begin, intervene if someone tries to drive after drinking and use taxis, ride-sharing services or sober friends for transportation.
Drivers are also reminded to buckle up and call 911 immediately to report a suspected impaired driver.
Officials say drunk driving is 100% preventable.