CONYERS — Local law enforcement agencies are partnering with the Georgia State Patrol in a month-long enforcement effort targeting impaired drivers on Georgia roads.

December is “Drunk and Drugged Driver Awareness Month” as holiday parties can increase the number of impaired drivers on the state’s roads. Leading into the Christmas and New Year’s weekends, Georgia State Troopers and officers with the Motor Carrier Compliance Division will concentrate on intercepting impaired drivers on the roads before they can cause a traffic crash.

“Impaired driving is not confined to summer nights, but rather a danger around the clock, 365 days a year,” said Col. Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. “Troopers and MCCD officers are keeping a close watch for suspected impaired drivers on every patrol.”

Last year, troopers arrested 1,116 people on charges of driving under the influence between Dec. 1, 2008, and Jan. 4, 2009.

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and Conyers Police Department have also planned to increase efforts on impaired driving locally.

RCSO Sgt. Scott Santillie, special operations supervisor, said this is the busiest time of the year for traffic enforcement in Rockdale County as more people are out. He explained traffic and crime suppression units at the Sheriff’s Office come together this time each year for traffic enforcement and to coincide with state agencies on focusing on impaired drivers.

Santillie said the problem he has seen is that people do not plan ahead enough, and they do not make arraignments to either stay at someone’s house or have a designated driver to keep them from driving impaired.

“We want people to have a good time, and we want people to be safe,” Santillie said. “If you find yourself impaired, take a taxi and come back and get your car tomorrow. It’s not worth what a DUI can do to you.”

The Conyers Police Department will also have more officers out this month. Chief David Cathcart said the officers are already out for crime prevention in the city’s shopping districts, but will also keep an eye out for impaired drivers.

“It gives a feeling of safety when you see more officers out there and being visible,” Cathcart said. “During that time also, we are working aggressive traffic enforcement which also has a tendency to curb criminal behavior because of the visibility.”

Both the Sheriff’s Office and Conyers Police plan to have traffic check points and sobriety tests to increase traffic enforcement during the holiday period between Dec. 24 and Jan. 3.