Police prepping for impaired drivers on New Year's Eve

MISHAWAKA, Ind.-- In a few short hours, people will be heading out to celebrate the new decade.

They’re not the only ones, police will be hitting the roads alongside of them to make sure everyone gets home safe.

New years eve got off to a slippery start for one semi driver who's trailer wound up dangling over an overpass on the toll road in Elkhart county.

“The double trailer stayed connected to each other and basically slid down that concrete wall and came to rest hanging over the edge of the overpass and looking at the crash he’s extremely lucky," said Indiana State Police Sergeant, Ted Bohner. 

That professional driver was not impaired and is lucky to be alive after his cab tumbled down an embankment, but slick road conditions, coupled with new year celebrations are not a good combination.

“It can be a recipe for disaster," said Bohner.

That’s why state and local police across the region are cracking down on drunk driving tonight. 

“We’re going to pay officers overtime to go out and look for that impaired and dangerous driver," said Mishawaka Police Lieutenant, Tim Williams.

Tthe snow covered roads are already forcing officers to change tactics and cancel some DUI checkpoints.

“Due to the road conditions it is unsafe for us to do those in this kind of weather. Both for our officers, and for the people we would have stop. Any where from 10-15 officers work that checkpoint, so now we’re going to have them on the road," said Williams.

ISP tell ABC57, throughout New Year's Eve and Day last year, there were more than 900 crashes across the state. 104 involved injuries and 4 people lost their lives," said Williams. 

New Year's Eve revelers we spoke with tell ABC57 they don’t want to one of those statistics.

“Uber, Lyft. Call somebody and just be safe. It's not worth it," said Allisea Horvath.

“Oh my wife is driving," laughed Kurt Olson. 

“Use Uber, Lyft, whatever it is, a relative, to get home safely or to get to where you’re going safely. The bottom line is when you mix the road conditions that we have today, we have those tragic events that we don’t want happening in our community. We’ll see you before you see us," said Williams. 

Lieutenant Williams says the point is not to write tickets or make arrests it's all about saving lives.