8:09 a.m., Oct. 28, 2009----Halloween is a special fall tradition, but many are unaware that it has become known as much for impaired driving crashes as it has for trick-or treating by children. Many adults now dress up too, going to house parties or local restaurants and bars that have special activities.

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Unfortunately, too many adults choose to drink alcohol at these events and then drive. In fact, in 2008, 58 percent of all highway fatalities nationwide on Halloween night were alcohol-related, said Cindy Genau, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension community coordinator for the Delaware Office of Highwy Safety.

That is why the Delaware Office of Highway Safety is stepping up planned DUI enforcement activities under the 2009 Checkpoint Strike force campaign this weekend.

“With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, we don't want revelers taking the party to the roadways, putting trick-or-treaters and responsible motorists at risk,” Genau said, noting that last year 47 people were arrested for DUI in Delaware on Halloween weekend.

Five sobriety checkpoints are being scheduled for the coming weekend, along with DUI saturation patrols. The New Castle County DUI Task Force will conduct an eight-hour checkpoint in the Wilmington area to coincide with the popular Halloween loop, Genau said.

Checkpoints are scheduled Friday, Oct. 30, in Wilmington by the task force, and in Smyrna and Harrington by the local police departments.

Also, checkpoints are scheduled Saturday, Oct. 31, in Millsboro, Clayton and Seaford by the local police departments.

Genau said the Office of Highway Safety offers the following tips for those who go out this weekend:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
• If you are impaired and have not designated a sober driver, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation; and
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to call 911.

Sixteen individuals were arrested for DUI the weekend of Oct. 23 at checkpoints conducted by the New Castle County DUI Task Force and the Georgetown Police Department. This brings the total number of DUI arrests for the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign since its July 2 launch to 294.

In addition to Friday night's 16 DUI arrests, officers cited three minors for underage drinking violations, apprehended nine wanted individuals, made six drug arrests and five felony arrests, seized one weapon, issued two seat belt citations, two child restraint citations and 63 citations for various other traffic violations.

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders and deterring others from drinking and driving. For weekly and ongoing campaign statistical updates on the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign, see the Office of Highway Safety Web site and click on the Checkpoint Strikeforce icon in the center of the page or follow the Office of Highway Safety on Twitter.