Kootenai County Sheriff's Department wants safe roadways for Christmas

COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County Sheriff's Deputies will be conducting an emphasis patrol for drunken drivers through Jan. 3.

Statistics explain why, officials say.

According to a press release, in 2006, there were 110 impaired driving fatalities in Idaho. More than 41 percent of all Idaho fatalities were the result of an impaired driving crash and 69 percent of those killed were not restrained.

In 2007 there were 197 fatality accidents and in 2008 there were about 175 fatality accidents in Idaho. Last year, more than 41 percent of Idaho's 96 highway fatalities were the result of an impaired driving crash.

"The goal of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department participation in the mobilization, is to support the statewide highway safety goal of reducing motor vehicle related deaths and serious injuries by increasing the awareness and compliance by strictly enforcing impaired driving laws," the release said.

The emphasis is sponsored by the Idaho Transportation Department, Office of Highway Operations and Safety.