VENANGO CO. (EYT) — Law enforcement officials are stepping up patrol efforts during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

The Venango County DUI Task Force, consisting of City of Franklin Police, Sugarcreek Borough Police, Polk Borough Police, Oil City Police, Venango County Sheriff’s Department, and Venango County Court Supervision, will be engaged in DUI patrols throughout the county.

According to PennDOT data, in 2016, there were 293 alcohol-related crashes resulting in eight fatalities from Friday, July 1 to Sunday, July 10.

This marked a decrease from 2015, when there were 330 alcohol-related crashes and 11 fatalities from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, July 5.

Also, during the holiday period last year, there were 101 drug-related crashes and four fatalities in those crashes, compared to 99 drug-related crashes and four fatalities in 2015.

“Law enforcement will stop and arrest any impaired driver over the Independence holiday in an effort to protect families traveling on our roadways and prevent tragedies from occurring and further senseless loss of life,” said Stephen Erni, Executive Director of the PADUI Association.

“They will utilize both standard field sobriety testing and advanced roadside impaired driving training to detect drivers under !he influence of alcohol and or drugs to keep the motoring public safe from avoidable crashes caused by impaired drivers.”

Also, state Fish & Boat Commission officers will be on the lookout for those operating watercraft under the influence.

“Boaters also need to keep in mind — they must travel on roadways to and from their water destinations,” Arni said.

Crashes involving DUI are entirely preventable.

Motorists should keep their families, themselves, and other motorists safe by designating a driver, or not driving or riding a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Passengers should never travel with an operator under the influence, and everyone in a vehicle should use their seat belts.

“Your seat belt is your first and best defense against a possible crash caused by an impaired driver or rider,” Arni said.