Detroit Free Press staff

Heading out to a party or meeting friends at the bar?

Law enforcement across metro Detroit are cracking down on drunken and drugged driving starting Thursday through New Year's Eve as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over safety campaign.

That means zero tolerance.

"Impaired driving of any form is not acceptable behavior," said Southfield's acting Police Chief Brian Bassett. "It is essential to plan a sober ride home before you ever leave for the party. That's why, during the December holiday, we will make zero exceptions for impaired driving. There are just no excuses."

Last year in Michigan, 359 people died in 320 alcohol-involved traffic crashes — the highest number of fatalities from alcohol-involved crashes since 2006, according to Michigan State Police.

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Police departments throughout the region are adding patrols as part of the crackdown.

During the last Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over crackdown, which was conducted from Oct. 18-Nov. 4, officers from police departments, sheriff’s offices and Michigan State Police (MSP) posts across Michigan made 6,869 traffic stops and arrested 153 drunken drivers.