Over the Halloween weekend (Oct. 31 to Nov. 2), the Columbia Police Department will participate with other agencies in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” traffic safety campaign.

The Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Safety is funding the extra officers to be out making the roadways safer.

Halloween falls on a Friday night this year, with many children and families expected to be out walking the neighborhoods.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Halloween is a statistically dangerous night for drunk driving. In 2012, almost half (48 percent) of all fatal crashes that night involved a drunk driver.

Columbia police are asking residents to do their part in helping to keep roadways safer by:

•Pre-planning a way to safely arrive home at the end of the night.

•Always designating a sober driver.

•Calling a taxi, a friend or just sleeping it off at the party location.

Walking on or near a roadway can be just as dangerous as driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.

If you see a drunk driver on the road, call police immediately.

If you know someone about to drive after drinking, take their keys and get them to their destination safely.