JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – With the end of 2020 quickly approaching the North Dakota Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation is hoping the year ends positively on North Dakota roads.

The state launched a campaign titled Vision Zero in an effort to bring the number of fatalities on the roads to zero within the state.  As of Wednesday, North Dakota has had 95 motor vehicle fatalities.  Compared to last year, the state had 100 fatalities.  Lauren Bjork with NDDOT says that they are seeking everyone’s help in not exceeding 100 deaths this year.

Recently, the state completed the Click it or Ticket campaign to get more people to wear a seatbelt.  The campaign resulted in over 1,600 citations, including over 500 seatbelt citations.  Now, the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway until the end of January.  Sargent Wade Kadrmas with the North Dakota highway patrol says that less than one week into the campaign, five people have already been cited for impaired driving.

As a way to prevent motor vehicle fatalities, and remember those who died on North Dakota roads,  the state has a virtual memorial wall.  The virtual walls, as Bjork describes, puts the names and faces to the fatalities statistics.

You can view the virtual memorial wall here.  Bjork and Sgt. Kadrmas remind everyone to buckle up and drive sober when hitting the road this holiday season.  Kadrmas also notes that keeping the roads safe is a team effort.

Extra patrols will be on the roads in North Dakota during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.  You can find more information about Vision Zero here.