As Californians plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Traffic Safety, and California Highway Patrol encourage motorists to plan ahead and designate a sober driver, or arrange for a safe and sober ride home.

The St. Patrick’s Day California Avoid DUI Task Force Enforcement Campaign is March 16-17. As part of the campaign, law enforcement throughout the state will be cracking down on anyone caught impaired behind the wheel.

Last year on St. Patrick’s Day, the CHP made more than 430 arrests statewide for DUI, which is a 28 percent increase from 2012. NHTSA reports that more than 269 people have been killed nationwide in collisions involving drunk drivers during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday from 2007 to 2011.