SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol is asking motorists to continue to drive safely as the winter holiday season continues.

The CHP will be observing the New Year with a Maximum Enforcement Period from 6:01 p.m. on Friday, December 28 to 11:59 p.m. on January 1. During this time all available personnel will be on duty. CHP will focus on impaired drivers, but officers will also watch for distracted driving, speeding and seat-belt violations, as well as motorists in need of assistance.

During last year's MEP, 40 people died in collisions on California roadways and more than two-thirds of the vehicle occupants killed within CHP jurisdiction were not wearing a seat belt. CHP also made 936 arrests for driving under the influence during the MEP.