DeKalb County Solicitor General Robert James is issuing a warning to Georgia drivers this holiday season. With Christmas and New Year's just days away, Solicitor James is reminding all drivers to be safe on the road and refrain from driving under the influence (DUI).

"Each year, our office sees a great influx of DUI offenses during Christmas and New Year's. Those driving recklessly while under

the influence and disregarding the law are in essence disregarding not only their lives but also the lives of others," said Solicitor James. "With the number of holiday parties and festivities, officers issue more and more tickets related to DUI and reckless driving behavior. These serious offenses will not be tolerated in DeKalb County. Drive safely and cautiously this holiday season."

STATE AND NATIONAL STATISTICS
• Of all the traffic fatalities in Georgia in 2008, about 27 percent (441 deaths) involved a driver who was legally intoxicated (blood-alcohol content of .08).
• Nationwide, more than 13,000 Americans die each year in alcohol-related crashes, and nearly 500,000 more suffer injuries.
• Three out of 10 people will be involved in an alcohol-related accident in their lifetime.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 2 to 14 years old, and about 20 percent of those deaths are alcohol-related.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mothers Against Drunk Driving