With the new year just days away, law enforcement across the valley is pleading with the public to drive sober during the holiday weekend--with New Year's Eve falling on a Saturday this year.

Ohio State Highway Patrol's, Lieutenant Daniel Morrison, spoke with 21 News on how to avoid impaired driving this weekend. 

"If you decide to drink alcohol and you are feeling any effects of it whatsoever, don't drive. Either stay where you are at or have a designated driver- a sober driver," Morrison said. 

Using services like Uber, Lyft or local taxi's can ensure a safe arrival and arrests or being responsible for fatalities. Morrison says other effective ways to stay safe this weekend include avoiding distracted driving and using seatbelts.

"[It] only takes a split second before you're traveling out of your lane and causing a crash," he said. 

Law enforcement officials reported 77% of fatal car crashes in Trumbull County this year were alcohol and drug related- a significant increase from last year.  

Morrison says state troopers plan to heavily patrol the roads to arrest, detect and find impaired drivers.