New Mexico’s driving conditions in the summer months are as hot as the season as the state’s highways become crowded and can be dangerous. But, the New Mexico Department of Transportation has a plan. And you’re part of it. We’re bringing back our “100 Days & Nights of Summer” safe driving campaign, which continues until September 8th.

The summer months are typically the deadliest time on New Mexico's roadways. Last year, traffic crashes claimed 141 lives in New Mexico during the months of June, July, August and September. 57 of those fatalities were alcohol-related. While last year’s numbers were an improvement over the previous year, we can do much better.

The 100 Days and Nights program is a cooperative effort to turn this around, and make the summer of 2008 the safest on our roadways in history.

Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught has set a goal of reducing auto fatalities in New Mexico by 25-percent this year. The 100 Days and Nights of Summer effort will help us achieve this goal.

We're conducting this campaign with the help of additional officers from more than 50 law enforcement agencies throughout the state. They will be on patrol looking for drunk drivers, speeders, drivers who don't wear their seatbelts and bars and restaurants that serve intoxicated patrons or minors.