Sedona police expect a quiet New Year’s Eve, but DUI patrols will be present nonetheless.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 42 percent of all traffic-related deaths over the New Year’s holiday are caused by drunk drivers, making the holiday one of the most dangerous days for drivers to be on the road.

The Fourth of July is typically considered the second worst holiday for drunk driving, according to statistics, followed by St. Patrick’s Day in third place.

In Arizona, DUI arrests increased in 2011 compared to 2010, according to the Governor’s Office for Highway Safety, with 27,125 arrests reported. Approximately 19,353 were reported in 2010. Data for 2012 is not yet available.

For the full story, see the Friday, Dec. 28, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.