Maui Police Department is sending a clear message to Maui County residents that it will not tolerate impaired driving.

“Impaired driving is reckless and preventable, and it’s our job to get that point across. No excuses, no warnings. If drivers are caught driving impaired, they will be arrested,” MPD reported last week.

Through Sept. 7, Maui Police Department is participating in a nationwide crackdown on impaired drivers called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

MPD’s Traffic Section will be out in force actively participating in the campaign. Motorists can expect to see increased patrols, including the use of unmarked vehicles and sobriety checkpoints.

“Despite the best efforts of the Maui Police Department, drunk driving – especially around holidays like Labor Day – is still one of the most dangerous crimes we face,” the department noted.

They recommend planning a safe way home before you start your festivities and designating a sober driver (if you wait until you’re impaired, you’re more likely to make a bad decision).

And if you have been drinking, take a taxi or call a sober friend or family member.

The urgency behind “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” a partnership between law enforcement agencies and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, stems from the fact that one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the U.S. involve impaired drivers, and motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 14- to 18-year-olds in the United States.

In 2013, there were 10,076 people killed in these preventable crashes. This equates to one person killed in a drunk-driving crash every 52 minutes.

According to MPD, nearly everyone on Maui has been affected in some way by an impaired driver.

If you see an impaired driver on the road, call MPD’s non-emergency number at 244-6400 to report it. You could save a life and prevent a tragedy.