Celebrating the New Year is a time to reflect on the events from the past year and look with excitement to the fresh start the change of the calendar often provides. It is not a time to drink, drive and end up in jail.

Unfortunately, there are those among us who will push their luck, take the wheel after drinking too much and try to make it to their next destination without getting caught by the police or ending up hurting themselves or someone else.

It is a game of roulette Selma Chief of Police William Riley would rather residents avoid playing this year.

“We will no doubt have officers out in force looking for those drivers who insist on drinking too much and then driving,” Riley said. “It is really sad that people continue to put themselves and others at risk by doing something so senseless by driving drunk.”

In addition to increased patrols by local law enforcement agencies, Alabama State Troopers said Thursday, they too would be out in force working to keep the state’s roads and highways safe.

“This is an exciting time of year, and we want you to really enjoy the holidays with your loved ones,” Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety Col. Hugh B. McCall said in a department release. “But please make highway safety a priority.”

The state’s holiday safety initiative includes extra patrols, sobriety checkpoints, line patrols and speed detection.

The state also announced they would target other violations that “often contribute to crashes, including speeding, following too closely, driver distraction and improper passing.”

As for Riley, he simply wants residents who choose to ring in the New Year with alcohol to do so responsibly.

“If you’re going out to the clubs or going over to a friend’s house to drink, make sure to carpool and name a designated driver,” Riley said. “If you’re are by yourself, then call a cab, call a friend, or stay where you are. Do anything other than getting behind the wheel of a car.”

According to Alabama State Troopers, last year the department and other law enforcement agencies from across the state investigated crashes that resulted in the death of 14 people, including five pedestrians.

Troopers said at least four of those deaths involved alcohol, and at least five vehicle occupants were not using their seat belts.