(COLORADO) — The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) said long holiday weekends are a time to relax, but not relax on safety rules when it comes to impairing substances.

According to CSP, holiday weekends are associated with an uptick in serious injury and fatal car crashes, many of which are related to impaired drivers.

“Last year, troopers arrested more impaired drivers on Memorial Day weekend than on any other holiday,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Being responsible should be ingrained as a step in making your holiday plans. There are rideshares, public transportation, and folks who might be happy to serve as designated drivers.”

CSP said in 2024, troopers arrested 63 drivers for DUI on Memorial Day, a 117% increase over 2023, with 29 arrests. CSP also said holiday weekends can be impacted by heavy congestion, unfamiliar routes, and other changing weather conditions.

The previous holiday weekend, which included Valentine’s Day and President’s Day, troopers responded to seven fatal crashes with eight deaths and four additional crashes with serious injuries, according to CSP. Difficult driving conditions caused by a multi-day winter storm, congested mountain corridors, and traffic delays due to road closures were listed as factors for that weekend by CSP.