North Dakota Highway Patrol increasing enforcement for New Year's weekend

Courtesy of: North Dakota Highway Patrol
Courtesy of: North Dakota Highway Patrol

(Bismarck, ND) -- The North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) is upping its enforcement efforts this New Year's holiday weekend. 

The NDHP is part of a nationwide organization called the Western States Traffic Safety Coalition (WSTSC). The organization is encouraging state agencies to increase patrols and help keep roadways safe for the holiday weekend. In the past five years, North Dakota has had five deaths during the New Year's period.

2021 driving statistics on driving fatalities show impaired driving, speeding, and a lack of seatbelt use are some of the top causes of preventable deaths in the state.