Since I knew I would be on vacation this week, I wrote this column as much as a reminder to myself as to all my fellow holiday drivers. In the immortal words of Hill Street Blues’ Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, played by the late Michael Conrad, “Let’s be careful out there” as we visit and party on New Year’s Eve.

In fact, let’s all make New Year’s resolutions to drive safer in 2017.

I’ve driven many of America’s highways and interstates, mostly east of the Mississippi River and south of the Mason-Dixon line.

I’ve been cut off, tailgated, rear-ended, blocked-in by semis and more.

However, I also have to admit to having a little bit of a lead foot in places, been too tired to drive as safely as I should and gotten a tinge of road rage.

One of my pet peeves as a driver, father and journalist is drunk driving. I’ve had to write too many stories in my 16-year career about the resulting heartache of losing a loved one to a drunk driver.

Recently, the Virginia State Police (VSP) sent out a press release titled “Survive the Holidays — Drive to Save Lives.” In it, VSP notes it’s illegal to drive over the limit of .08 grams per deciliter, referring to blood alcohol levels.

Let’s make 2017 a very safe year on the Heart of Virginia’s roads.

Martin L. Cahn is the managing editor of The Farmville Herald. His email address is martin.cahn@farmvilleherald.com.